Tragedy struck the scuba diving community as an American actor, Christian Klepser, known by his stage name Christian Oliver, and his two young daughters, Madita Klepser, 10, and Annik Klepser, 12, lost their lives when a light aircraft crashed into the waters off Bequia, a Caribbean island.
The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force reported that the incident occurred shortly after the plane, registered as a Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking, took off from J.F. Mitchell Airport on its way to St. Lucia. The plane’s owner and pilot, Robert Sachs of Bequia, was also among the victims.Christian Oliver had a notable career in the film industry, with roles in movies such as Speed Racer, The Good German, and Valkyrie, according to NBC News. The tragic crash took place after the aircraft experienced difficulties moments after takeoff, ultimately plummeting into the ocean.Fishermen and divers rushed to the scene in an attempt to assist, while the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard was alerted. Coast Guard personnel later recovered the bodies of all four individuals from the aircraft and the sea. The victims, including Robert Sachs, were pronounced dead by a medical practitioner.The police expressed condolences to those affected by the incident, and an investigation into the crash is ongoing. An unverified video circulating on social media purportedly shows the aircraft hitting the water at a steep angle.Pilot Robert “Bob” Sachs, also known for owning a scuba diving center named Dive Bequia, attended high school in New Jersey. His Facebook account featured videos expressing pride in his aircraft. Christian Oliver, originally from Frankfurt, Germany, posted a serene picture of a beach at sunset on Instagram just days before the crash, captioned with, “Let Love Rule. Wishing all of you the best for 2024!” The scuba diving industry mourns the loss of Sachs, a pilot with a passion for both flying and exploring the depths of the ocean.
