Agape Flights Breaks Ground on Expansion Hangar in Venice

Florida nonprofit expands mission to deliver supplies to Caribbean communities.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:25pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a small propeller plane icon repeated in a tight grid pattern, rendered in vibrant neon hues and heavy black outlines in the style of Andy Warhol's pop art, conceptually representing Agape Flights' mission of delivering vital resources to communities in need.Agape Flights' expansion plans will allow the nonprofit to deliver more essential supplies to underserved Caribbean communities from its base in Venice, Florida.Sarasota Today

Agape Flights, a Florida-based nonprofit organization, has broken ground on a new expansion hangar project at the Venice Municipal Airport. The expansion will allow the organization to eventually have more planes and deliver more supplies and resources to communities in the Caribbean that lack access to essential goods.

Why it matters

The expansion comes after a tragic plane crash in February 2026 that killed two Agape Flights pilots, Patrick Decker and Kory Elleby, while they were delivering supplies to Haiti. Despite this loss, the organization has remained committed to its mission of supporting missionary families throughout the Caribbean.

The details

The new expansion hangar project has been in the works for about five years and has received approval from the Planning Commission and the City of Venice. CEO Allen Speer stated that the first phase of the project is now underway, and the next phase will involve acquiring a larger aircraft to carry more supplies to the organization's mission partners.

  • Agape Flights began operations in November 1980 with a small Cessna flying from Sarasota to Haiti.
  • In February 2026, an Agape Flights plane crashed in Haiti, killing pilots Patrick Decker and Kory Elleby.
  • A celebration of life for the pilots was held on March 21, 2026 at Venice Presbyterian Church.
  • Agape Flights broke ground on the expansion hangar project in April 2026.

The players

Agape Flights

A faith-based nonprofit organization that began operations in 1980 and now serves approximately 300 missionary families throughout the Caribbean from its base at the Venice Municipal Airport.

Allen Speer

The CEO of Agape Flights, who stated that the expansion project has been about five years in the making and will allow the organization to deliver more supplies to communities in need.

Patrick Decker

One of the Agape Flights pilots who was killed in the February 2026 plane crash in Haiti while delivering supplies.

Kory Elleby

One of the Agape Flights pilots who was killed in the February 2026 plane crash in Haiti while delivering supplies.

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What they’re saying

“It has been a long time coming. This is phase one. The next phase will be a bigger aircraft so that we can carry more supplies to mission partners throughout the Caribbean.”

— Allen Speer, CEO, Agape Flights

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Agape Flights' commitment to its mission of supporting Caribbean communities has only been strengthened by the tragic loss of its pilots. The organization's expansion plans will allow it to reach even more people in need, demonstrating the resilience and determination of its faith-based work.