A small plane carrying four members of a Florida family went missing over the Bahamas on Monday, and search crews from the Bahamas and the United States are working to locate it after weather forced a temporary halt to the effort.
The aircraft, a Piper PA-34 with tail number N212ML, departed Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands at roughly 10:12 a.m. bound for Miami Executive Airport in Miami-Dade County. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane around 11:04 a.m. as it neared the western side of Andros Island, according to Bahamian authorities. The Royal Bahamas Police Force said it is coordinating the search for an aircraft believed to have gone down off the coast of Red Bays, North Andros, roughly 13 to 15 miles west of the island.
Who was on board
Authorities identified the four people aboard as pilot Mario Lamar, 80, his wife Lili Lamar, 79, and two of their grandchildren, Sofia Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22. Family members told reporters Lamar had more than 40 years of flying experience.
Search effort and weather delay
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force requested help from the U.S. Coast Guard at around 2 p.m. Monday after receiving the report of a downed aircraft. The Coast Guard launched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft to assist Bahamian police and defence force units already searching the waters off North Andros. Officials said the search had to be suspended because of poor weather conditions, and it was not immediately clear when crews would be able to resume the operation.
No wreckage or survivors had been confirmed publicly as of Monday evening. Authorities in both countries said the search remains active and that they will provide updates as conditions allow crews back into the area.
Sources: CBS News · NBC News · Local 10 News
