Body of One Family Member Found After Bahamas Plane Disappearance
One of four family members aboard a plane missing off the Bahamas was found dead, a relative said. Search continues for others.
A family member has confirmed that one of the four people aboard a small plane that vanished near the Bahamas has been found dead. Silvia Larrieu said a relative searching by boat discovered the body on Tuesday, though the family has not yet released the identity of the deceased.
The aircraft disappeared on Monday after departing Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands, bound for Miami Executive Airport in Miami-Dade County, according to Bahamas police. The plane was carrying Larrieu's uncle, Mario Lamar, an 80-year-old pilot with over four decades of flying experience, along with his wife Lili, 79, and their grandchildren, Sofi Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22. The group was returning home to Miami after a long weekend trip.
Larrieu said her uncle, who kept a second home in Great Harbour Cay, had filed a flight plan indicating the expected landing time. The family grew concerned when messages sent to the passengers went undelivered, prompting them to alert authorities. She described her uncle as a cautious pilot who maintained his aircraft in pristine condition.
Bahamas police identified the missing aircraft as a PA-34 Piper five-seater with tail number N212ML. Air traffic control lost contact with the plane when it was approximately 13 miles west of Andros Island. The U.S. Coast Guard has joined the search, with a plane assisting in the effort on Tuesday, following a request from Bahamian authorities.
Larrieu appealed for public assistance in locating the remaining family members, saying, "We are always going to hold hope. We do believe in miracles."