- The four bodies were recovered by local fisherman and recreational divers who were close to the scene
The horrifying moment when a small aircraft plunged into the sea, killing an American man, his two pre-teen daughters and the pilot, off of a tiny Caribbean island was caught on video.
The tragedy occurred Thursday in the waters off Bequia, which is part of St. Vincent, around noon.
In one video, a person recording can be heard saying: ‘The plane crashed! Call the Coast Guard!’
The victims have been named by the local police as Christian Klepser, 51, his daughters, Madita, 10, and Annik, 12. The pilot was Robert Sachs. He also owned the plane involved. The family arrived in the area on December 26.
The group were en route to St. Lucia when the crash occurred, authorities said. Moments after taking off from JF Mitchell Airport in Bequia, the plan got into unspecified difficulties.
US tourist Christian Klepser, 51, and two daughters, Madita, 10, and Annik, 12, are killed along with American pilot after their small plane nose dives into sea off tiny Caribbean island
A few seconds into a social media clip that is circulating online, the plane can be seen speeding towards the water
A massive splash occurs as all four on board are killed by the impact
After the crash, the plane can be seen bobbing in the water. Local fishermen and divers descended on the scene in order to help with the rescue effort
Local fishermen and recreational swimmers who were in the area helped in the initial search, police said in a statement. The depth of the water is thought to be around 70 feet.
St. Vincent-based news outlet Searchlight reports that Sachs radioed the tower shortly after takeoff to tell them he was experiencing trouble and was turning back. That was the last communication.
All four bodies have been recovered.
According to his LinkedIn page, Sachs operated a diving business in Bequia alongside his wife, Cathy. He was a native of Springfield, New Jersey, who had been living in the Caribbean for close to 40 years.
The cause of the plane crash remains under investigation.