Officials in St Vincent are confirming the deaths of four people after a small plane plunged into the ocean off the coast of Bequia, an island administered by St Vincent and the Grenadines, on Thursday (January 4).

The victims have since been identified as pilot Robert Sachs, a Bequia native; 51-year-old American national Christian Klepser and his two daughters Madita (10) and Annik (12).

According to a report from the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), the small plane departed the JF Mitchell Airport around 12:11 pm destined for neighbouring St Lucia.

The aircraft encountered difficulties moments after take off and nosedived into the sea one nautical mile (1.82 kilometres) west of Petit Nevis island.

WATCH: Eyewitness video of the crash

BREAKING
A small aircraft crashed moments after takeoff from Bequia just after midday today, according to St Vincent media. Coast Guard vessels are reportedly on site at this time. The cause of the crash and number of souls onboard is unknown atm.

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“Fishermen and divers from Paget Farm went to the scene of the incident in their boats to render assistance. The SVG Coast Guard was informed and quickly traveled to Paget Farm, Bequia, to lead in the rescue efforts,” the police report indicated.

A medical practitioner pronounced the travelling party dead after Coast Guard personnel subsequently recovered the bodies of the four victims.

The four bodies were transported to mainland St Vincent, where post-mortem examinations are expected to be carried out at the Kingstown mortuary to ascertain the cause of death.