The U.S. Coast Guard has joined a search for four Florida family members whose small plane disappeared after leaving Great Harbour Cay in the Bahamas for Opa-locka, Florida. Bahamian authorities believe the aircraft may have crash-landed in the ocean west of Andros Island. The aircraft’s occupants were identified as pilot Mario Lamar, his wife Lili, and their grandchildren Sofia Sosa and Christian Sosa. Search operations were affected by poor weather conditions.
| 1) | Flight disappears after leaving Great Harbour Cay |
| 2) | Four family members identified as passengers |
| 3) | Coast Guard aircraft joins the operation |
| 4) | Weather delays the search effort |
| 5) | Family appeals for help finding the missing travelers |
Flight disappears after leaving Great Harbour Cay
The PA-34 Piper five-seat aircraft departed Great Harbour Cay at approximately 11:12 a.m. Monday, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. It was traveling toward Opa-locka, a city near Miami, when air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane about 13 miles west of Andros Island. Flight tracking data indicated that the aircraft descended from 10,000 feet to 3,700 feet in roughly three minutes before disappearing from radar.
Authorities received a report at about 2:20 p.m. that an aircraft may have gone down in the waters near Red Bays. The circumstances of the disappearance remained under investigation, and officials had not confirmed the aircraft’s location or the condition of anyone aboard.
Four family members identified as passengers
The family identified the people aboard as 80-year-old pilot Mario Lamar, his 79-year-old wife Lili, and their grandchildren Sofia Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22. They were returning to Florida after spending the Labor Day weekend at a vacation property in Great Harbour Cay.
A relative said the family had a long connection to the island. The family also described Mario Lamar as an experienced pilot who regularly maintained the aircraft in very good condition. The plane’s reported tail number was N212ML.
Coast Guard aircraft joins the operation
The U.S. Coast Guard Southeast command said it was assisting Bahamian authorities after receiving a report of a downed aircraft with four people aboard approximately 15 miles off Andros Island. An HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft joined the search, bringing medium-range surveillance capabilities to the operation.
The Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association also advised that the Coast Guard had attempted to search for the aircraft. The international response reflects the plane’s reported route, the suspected location over open water, and the need for aircraft capable of covering a broad search area.
Weather delays the search effort
Search crews faced inclement weather after the aircraft was reported missing. Bahamian police said the search was postponed until conditions became favorable, limiting the ability of rescue teams to operate safely and effectively over the water.
The weather delay added urgency to the response because officials had not located the aircraft after communications were lost. Authorities continued coordinating through air traffic control, Bahamian police, the rescue association, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Family appeals for help finding the missing travelers
Silvia Larrieu, a niece of the couple, publicly appealed for assistance with the search and rescue effort. She said the family wanted to bring the four travelers home.
“Please help. I ask anybody out there, if you can help with search and rescue efforts, we would greatly appreciate it. We need to bring them home.”
The family’s account underscored the personal impact of the disappearance while official teams focused on locating the plane and determining what happened after it left Great Harbour Cay.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Piper aircraft left Great Harbour Cay for Opa-locka at about 11:12 a.m. |
| 2 | Four family members were aboard, including pilot Mario Lamar. |
| 3 | Contact was lost about 13 miles west of Andros Island. |
| 4 | A U.S. Coast Guard HC-144 aircraft joined the search. |
| 5 | Poor weather temporarily postponed search activity. |
Summary
Authorities in the Bahamas and the United States were searching for four people after their Piper aircraft disappeared over waters near Andros Island during a flight to Florida. The Coast Guard added an HC-144 surveillance aircraft to the operation, while weather conditions complicated the response. Investigators had not confirmed the plane’s location or the fate of those aboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was aboard the missing aircraft?
The people identified by family were pilot Mario Lamar, his wife Lili, and their grandchildren Sofia Sosa and Christian Sosa.
Where did the aircraft disappear?
Air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft approximately 13 miles west of Andros Island, near the waters off Red Bays in the Bahamas.
Who joined the search?
The U.S. Coast Guard joined Bahamian authorities and the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association. An HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft was assigned to the search.
Why was the search postponed?
Bahamian authorities said inclement weather forced rescuers to postpone the operation until conditions became favorable.