2 people rescued after small plane crashes near Turks and Caicos Islands

Two people have been rescued after a small plane taking off from Florida crashed into the waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean.

Royal Turks and Caicos Police said shortly after noon Saturday they received reports of a plane landing in the water, about 16 miles off the coast of the island of Providenciales.

“The plane, which took off from the United States, experienced an engine failure,” police said in a statement. “Two individuals are believed to be on board.”

Police sources told ABC News that a search operation was launched and with the help of the US Coast Guard, the two passengers – a man and a woman – were rescued on Saturday afternoon and taken to a local hospital.

Authorities have not yet released the names of the passengers or their nationalities.

Authorities had no immediate word on the condition of the two passengers.

The plane took off from Palm Beach, Florida, and was heading to the island of Providenciales when problems arose with both engines, according to law enforcement sources.