Full Breakdown
Missing Florida Family Searched After Plane Vanishes Near Bahamas
9/8/2026, 11:49:26 AM
Incident Overview
A private PA-34 Piper aircraft carrying grandparents Mario Lamar and Lili Lamar and their adult grandchildren Sofia and Christian Sosa disappeared while en route from Great Harbour Cay to Opa-Locka, Florida. The flight lost radar contact west of Andros Island, prompting a joint search by Bahamian authorities and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Background & Context
The family had been spending Labor Day weekend at their residence on Great Harbour Cay, described by niece Silvia Larrieu as “like their second home.” After the weekend they boarded their own aircraft to return to Miami.
Timeline
- Morning: Departed Great Harbour Cay at ~11:10 a.m., heading for Miami Executive Airport.
- Around 11:04 a.m.: Last radar contact near the western side of Andros Island; altitude dropped from roughly 10,000 ft to 3,700 ft within three minutes.
- 2:20 p.m.: Royal Bahamas Police reported the aircraft may have gone down about 13 mi west of Andros Island.
- Afternoon: U.S. Coast Guard dispatched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry to assist the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
- Evening: Search operations were temporarily halted because of deteriorating weather.
Data & Statistics
- Aircraft: PA-34 Piper (five-seat twin-engine), tail number N212ML.
- Passengers: Mario Lamar, Lili Lamar, Sofia Sosa, Christian Sosa.
- Location of loss: Approximately 13–15 mi west of Andros Island, near Red Bays.
- Altitude change: From about 10,000 ft to 3,700 ft in a three-minute interval, per FlightAware and FlightRadar24.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed loss of contact and requested U.S. Coast Guard assistance.
- A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson said the agency coordinated with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and launched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry to search the area.
- The family expressed gratitude for the response and asked anyone with information to come forward.
- Officials noted heavy thunderstorms at the time, but no definitive cause has been established. The search was suspended pending improved weather.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Whether it’s by plane, by boat, any signs that you’ve noticed, to help us find them and bring them back alive,” — Silvia Larrieu.
Why It Matters
The incident highlights challenges in coordinating cross-border search and rescue for private aviation accidents and the need for timely information from both local and international authorities when a small aircraft goes missing over remote waters.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Aircraft model: Some outlets listed the plane as a PA-34 Piper five-seater; others described it as a six-seat Piper Seneca. Both refer to tail number N212ML.
- Cause of disappearance: Severe weather was present, but no official determination links the storm to the loss. Further investigation is needed to clarify the factors behind the sudden altitude drop and radar loss.
