A search is ongoing for a Florida couple and their grandchildren following a plane crash on Monday while returning from a vacation in the Bahamas. The Royal Bahamas Police Force reported that a five-seater PA-34 Piper aircraft, which was headed to Opa-locka, Florida, crashed into the water approximately 13 miles west of Andros Island at 2:20 p.m. on Monday.
The aircraft had departed from Great Harbor Cay earlier that day and was carrying pilot Mario Lamar, 80, his wife Lili Lamar, 79, and their grandchildren, 28-year-old Sofia Sosa and 22-year-old Christian Sosa. The family informed the Miami Herald that the couple and their grandchildren had spent Labor Day weekend at their vacation home in Great Harbor Cay.
Silvia Larrieu, a niece of the Lams, stated, "They’ve spent their whole life going there. That’s like their second home. They were coming home."
FlightAware data indicated that the aircraft lost radar contact after experiencing rapid fluctuations in speed and a sudden altitude drop from 10,000 feet to 3,700 feet within three minutes. The flight encountered rough weather near the northern end of Andros Island, which delayed search efforts by Bahamian authorities, according to Larrieu.
In a video statement, Larrieu appealed for assistance, saying, "Please help. 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 US Coast Guard is collaborating with Bahamian authorities in the search for the aircraft, deploying an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane, as stated in a social media announcement by the agency. Family members noted that pilot Mario Lamar was experienced, with over 40 years of flying experience. Sofia Sosa recently graduated from Wake Forest University, while her brother, Christian Sosa, graduated from Loyola Marymount University.