Urgent Search Operations Begin
An American family, consisting of two grandparents and their two grandchildren, has reportedly gone missing after their small plane is believed to have crashed off the coast of the Bahamas. The U.S. Coast Guard and Bahamian officials have commenced an extensive search operation following the alarming incident that occurred on Monday.
At around 2 p.m., the Royal Bahamian Defense Force reached out to the Coast Guard for assistance after receiving a report of a downed aircraft. It was located approximately 15 miles from Andros Island, and the Coast Guard confirmed they are aiding local authorities in the ongoing search efforts.
Flight Details and Family Identification
According to statements from the Bahamas Police, the police department is actively coordinating the search for the missing plane, described as a PA-34 Piper five-seater. It was noted that the aircraft, with tail number N212ML, had taken off from Great Harbour Cay at approximately 11:12 a.m. Earlier reports indicated that Air Traffic Control had lost contact with the plane about 13 miles west of Andros Island.
The family has been identified as Mario Lamar Sr., aged 80; Lili Lamar, aged 79; Sofi Sosa, 28; and Christian Sosa, 22. In a family statement, they highlighted that Mario Lamar brings over 40 years of flying experience to the situation, making it all the more distressing that the aircraft has not been located.
The destination for the flight was Miami Executive Airport, with the last known contact occurring at around 11:04 a.m. near the western side of Andros. The family has urgently requested that Bahamian authorities, alongside the U.S. Coast Guard and all relevant local organizations, mobilize every possible resource to find the aircraft and its occupants swiftly.
Expressing their gratitude, the Lamar and Sosa families appreciate all those involved in the search and have welcomed the support received during this challenging time.
This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
