Four bodies were recovered Tuesday by family members who had launched their own search effort after a small airplane vanished off the coast of the Bahamas. The bodies were found by relatives using private boats, and the family is now working with the U.S. Coast Guard to bring the deceased home.
The missing aircraft carried Mario Lamar, 80, a pilot with more than 40 years of experience, his wife Lili, 79, and their two grandchildren, Sofi, 28, and Christian, 22. The family had been traveling back to Miami after spending the holiday weekend in Great Harbour Cay, where Mr. Lamar owned a second residence.
The flight departed Monday morning from Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands and was scheduled to land at Miami Executive Airport. Air traffic control lost contact with the PA‑34 Piper, tail number N212ML, roughly 13 miles west of Andros Island, about 150 miles southeast of Miami. The aircraft had an official flight plan and a text message confirming take‑off, but subsequent messages were not delivered.
A U.S. Coast Guard aircraft was deployed to assist with the search on Tuesday. Bahamian authorities had requested the agency’s help around 2 p.m. Monday after the plane was reported down, but initial operations were postponed because of bad weather.
In a statement, the family expressed deep gratitude for the support and prayers they received, and asked for privacy as they mourn the loss.
The four fatalities came less than two months after another crash in North Andros that killed ten people, underscoring the region’s recent aviation safety concerns.
