Best known for his parts in movies like “Speed Racer” and “Valkyrie,” Christian Oliver passed away on Thursday when his small plane crashed into the water off the coast of a Caribbean island, killing him and his two small daughters, according to Deadline.
Oliver had 51 years old. The owner and pilot of the aircraft, Robert Sachs, perished in the collision as well. Among the dead were Oliver’s daughters, Madita, 12, and Annik, 10.
The single-engine aircraft took off from JF Mitchell Airport in Bequia, a small island in the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and crashed on its route to neighboring St. Lucia on Thursday afternoon, according to authorities.
“Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced difficulties and nose-dived into the ocean,” the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said in a statement provided to media outlets.
“Fishermen and divers from Paget Farm went to the scene of the incident in their boats to render assistance.” According to officials, all four bodies have been recovered.
The cause of the crash is still being investigated. According to local reports, the pilot radioed the tower shortly after takeoff to advise that he was having problems and would be returning. That was the plane’s final transmission.
Oliver had just finished filming the final sequences of his latest picture, ‘Forever Hold Your Peace’, directed by Nick Lyon and co-starring Bai Ling.
Lyon took to Instagram on the final day of filming to pay tribute to Oliver, writing, “This is our 5th film together. @christianoliverofficial and me produced this one, and this is our last day of filming!”
“We talked about producing a film together for years and finally did it! Thank you for being a great colleague, actor and friend @christianoliverofficial. #foreverholdyourpeace”
