An American man, his two pre-teen daughters, and the pilot were tragically killed when their small aircraft crashed into the sea off the coast of Bequia, a small Caribbean island. The bodies were recovered by local fishermen and recreational divers who were in the area at the time of the crash.
The incident occurred on Thursday around noon, and it was captured on video by a witness who could be heard shouting for help. The victims were identified by local police as Christian Klepser, 51, and his daughters, Madita, 10, and Annik, 12, as well as the pilot, Robert Sachs. The family had arrived in the area just a few days prior to the crash and were en route to St. Lucia when the tragedy occurred.
According to reports, the pilot radioed the tower shortly after takeoff to report experiencing trouble and intending to turn back. Unfortunately, this was the last communication from the aircraft. Shortly after taking off from JF Mitchell Airport in Bequia, the plane encountered unspecified difficulties.
Divers and local fishermen in the area were able to recover all four bodies, as well as the wreckage of the aircraft. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, and authorities are working to determine what led to the tragic accident.
The whole incident has shocked the local community and left the families of the victims reeling from their loss. The recovery of the bodies has brought some closure to the devastating event, but the investigation into the crash is ongoing. It remains a tragic reminder of the dangers that can come with air travel, especially in remote and challenging environments.