A small plane carrying four family members from Florida disappeared off the coast of the Bahamas on Monday, prompting a coordinated search-and-rescue mission involving Bahamian police and the U.S. Coast Guard.
According to a statement from Bahamas police, the aircraft departed Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands and was en route to Miami Executive Airport in Miami-Dade County. Air traffic control lost contact with the plane approximately 13 miles west of Andros Island.
Bahamian officials notified the U.S. Coast Guard around 2 p.m. requesting assistance in locating the downed aircraft. A spokesperson confirmed that watchstanders at the Southeast District command center launched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry to aid the search operation.
However, adverse weather conditions forced authorities to suspend the search. It remained unclear when operations would resume.
Bahamas police identified the missing aircraft as a PA-34 Piper five-seater with tail number N212ML. Investigators believe the plane may have crash-landed near Red Bays on the island of North Andros. Police on Andros are currently coordinating local efforts to locate the wreckage.
The Miami Herald reported that the individuals on board were members of a single family: 80-year-old pilot Mario Lamar, his 79-year-old wife Lili Lamar, and their two grandchildren, 28-year-old Sofia Sosa and 22-year-old Christian Sosa.
In a video statement cited by the Herald, Silvia Larrieu, the niece of Mario and Lili Lamar, appealed for public assistance. “Please help,” she said. “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 incident is under investigation as authorities continue to search for the missing aircraft and its passengers.
Is North Andros even populated there? Search must be incredibly difficult in that terrain.
13 miles off coast with bad weather? That’s terrifying. Hope they find them soon.
My heart breaks for this family. Please bring them home safe.