KINGSTOWN, St Vincent and the Grenadines – The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) has confirmed the identities of those tragically lost in Thursday’s plane crash near Bequia, an island part of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Among the deceased are Christian Klepser, a 51-year-old US national, and his two daughters, Madita Klepser,10, and 12 year-old Annik Klepser. The pilot, Robert Sachs, hailing from Bequia, was also among those who perished. According to reports, the fatal incident occurred when the single-engine aircraft, operated by Sachs, met with a disaster shortly after its takeoff from J.F. Mitchell Airport in Paget Farm, Bequia. The aircraft was en route to St Lucia when it plunged into the sea about one nautical mile west of Petit Nevis.
The RSVGPF reported that the aircraft, bearing the registration N4023B and owned by Sachs, encountered operational difficulties leading to its sudden and catastrophic descent into the ocean. Following the crash, local fishermen and divers from Paget Farm promptly responded, rushing to the crash site with their boats to offer assistance. Their efforts were soon joined by the SVG Coast Guard, which arrived at Paget Farm to spearhead the rescue operations.
Despite their swift response, all aboard the aircraft had succumbed to the crash. The police have announced that autopsies on the recovered bodies are slated to be conducted in the coming days. This tragedy has sent shockwaves through the community, and the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.