BEQUIA, St. Vincent and the Grenadines – An American man and his two daughters were tragically among the victims of a small plane crash that occurred shortly after takeoff from a Caribbean island on Thursday. The plane crashed into the waters off Bequia, a small island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, claiming the lives of all four people on board, including the pilot.
Authorities reported that the single-engine aircraft took off from J.F. Mitchell Airport around noon local time and was en route to St. Lucia when it encountered difficulties and plunged into the ocean. The victims were identified as 51-year-old U.S. citizen Christian Klepser, and his two daughters, 12-year-old Madita and 10-year-old Annik Klepser. The pilot, Robert Sachs, was also among the casualties and was reported as the owner of the aircraft.
Following the crash, local fishermen, divers, and the country’s Coast Guard responded and recovered the bodies of all four victims. The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force stated that autopsies will be conducted to determine the cause of death for each victim.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation, and authorities have not yet determined the cause of the accident. The tragic event has left the community in mourning, and further details will be forthcoming as the investigation progresses.
In summary, a small plane crash off the coast of Bequia in St. Vincent and the Grenadines claimed the lives of an American man and his two daughters, along with the pilot. The cause of the crash remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the events leading up to this devastating tragedy.