Christian Oliver's Wife Jessica Klepser Honors 'Beloved' Actor and Daughters: 'Deeply Saddened'

The actor died, along with his two daughters aged 12 and 10, in a plane crash in the Caribbean on Thursday

The wife of actor Christian Oliver, who was killed in a plane crash in the Caribbean on Thursday along with the couple's two young daughters, has spoken out for the first time in response to the tragic news of their deaths.

On Friday, an emotional statement "from Jessica Klepser and family" was posted on Wundabar Pilates' page by Amy Jordan, the company's owner. Klepser, who was married to Oliver, is the regional manager of the California branch of the pilates studio, according to the image included in the post.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic plane accident on January 4, 2024, which took the lives of our beloved family members. Our daughters, Madita (12), and Annik (10), along with their father Christian, were returning from a holiday in the Caribbean when the single-engine plane they were traveling in experienced engine trouble and fell into the ocean. Unfortunately, all four passengers on the small aircraft did not survive," the statement began.

Oliver, who has appeared in the films The Baby-Sitters Club, The Good German, Speed Racer and Valkyrie, Madita and Annika died in a plane crash off the island of Bequia on Thursday. They were traveling in a single-engine aircraft from the J.F. Mitchell Airport in Paget Farm to St. Lucia, according to a statement from Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force released on the same day as the crash.

Related: Actor Christian Oliver, 51, and His Daughters, 10 and 12, Killed in Plane Crash

The Friday Instagram statement from Klepser then detailed how Oliver and his daughters were loved by their community.

“Madita, a vibrant 7th-grade student at Louis Armstrong Middle School, was known for her lively spirit and excelled in academics, dance, singing, and performances. Annik, a 4th-grade student at Wonderland Ave Elementary School, was recognized for her gentle yet strong demeanor. She was always the first to offer a kind word or a comforting hug. Her passions included basketball, swimming, and various forms of art,” the post continued.

“The deep bond, infectious laughter, and adventurous spirit shared by Madita and Annik will be profoundly missed in their communities. Their devoted mother, Jessica Klepser in LA, survives the girls. They also leave behind their grandparents, several aunts, uncles, and cousins in Germany.”

Related: Christian Oliver Remembered as 'Great Colleague, Actor and Friend' After Death in Plane Crash: 'Profound Loss'

“Christian, an actor in Europe and the US, and a real estate agent with a broad network of close friends worldwide, is survived by Jessica, his parents and sister in Germany. His loss will be deeply felt by all who knew him.”

The statement concluded by asking for privacy for the family “at this difficult time.”

A link to a GoFundMe page set up for the family by friend of Klepser, named Sarah Silverman, was also shared for donations in lieu of flowers.

“Your donations will help cover the cost of returning Christian and the girls home, funeral and memorial services, legal expenses, and will go a long way in support of Jessica and the extended family during this terribly difficult time,” a post on the page read.

So far, nearly $50,000 has been raised reaching halfway towards the target set of $100,000 in donations.

On Thursday, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force statement shared details of the tragic incident and actions of local response teams.

“Moments after taking off, the aircraft experienced difficulties and plummeted into the ocean,” the authorities said at the time. “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.”

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The bodies of the three passengers and pilot, identified as owner of the plane Robert Sachs, were recovered from the sea and aircraft by the SVG Coast Guard and later pronounced dead, authorities confirmed.

Post-mortem examinations determining the cause of death will be taking place.

Reps listed for Oliver did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment Friday.

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