It was 2.30 pm on Monday when a motor glider flown by retired Captain Philip Meredith crashed into the sea just off the coast of Vaitele. The incident claimed the life of Mr. Meredith.

Workers of Bluebird had just started their shift again after their lunch break when the accident happened. They saw the glider circle around the area a few times before ending up in the water.

According to the police, Mr. Meredith took off with the glider just behind Vaitele and flew around Faleula before it crashed.

The glider crashed off the coast where Bluebird's concrete operations are based. According to the employees, they pulled the pilot's body out of the water, however, he had shown no sign of life when brought to shore.

"We saw it circling and then when it flew back in our direction, it ended up in the water. It crashed and sank slowly," said an employee of Bluebird. He did not want to be named due to work policies.

"Our barge was out there in the sea digging sand work when the aircraft crashed. Then some employees came and tried their best to help the pilot and managed to get him out but it was too late.

"The Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority got here and did what they had to do, provided first aid treatments but it was too late so they left and the police took his body."

Samoa Observer was on the site when the police and employees of Bluebird took a small boat to try and pull out the glider from the ocean about 100 metres from the shore.

However, they could not pull out the sinking glider. Then the police resorted to using a barge owned by Bluebird and used an excavator that was on the barge to pull glider out successfully.

The police initially dove into the ocean to determine if there were passengers in the glider. The aircraft is a one-man vehicle.

Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo confirmed the loss of life and their rescue attempts.

"He took off with the glider just behind Vaitele and flew around Faleula before it crashed into the ocean. I can confirm his death. We suspect this to be from drowning but medical examination will determine that later," he said.

"As of this moment, we cannot confirm the cause of the crash as it is still under investigation."

Asked about the glider whether it requires a permit to fly Auapaau said that is a matter under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure (M.W.T.I.).

It is still yet to be determined if the retired pilot had the license to operate the motor glider where normal flight paths are.