US Coast Guard joins search for missing plane carrying four family members
A PA-34 Piper with four family members disappeared near Andros Island; US Coast Guard assisting Bahamian authorities.
A small plane carrying four family members disappeared off the Bahamas on Monday while en route to Florida, prompting a joint search by Bahamian police and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The aircraft, a PA-34 Piper five-seater with tail number N212ML, departed from Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands and was heading to Miami Executive Airport in Miami-Dade County, according to Bahamas police.
Air traffic control lost contact with the plane when it was about 13 miles west of Andros Island. Police on Andros are coordinating efforts to locate the aircraft, which is believed to have crash-landed off the coast of Red Bays, North Andros.
Silvia Larrieu identified her uncle, Mario Lamar, as the pilot. Also aboard were his wife, Lily Lamar, and two grandchildren, Christian Sosa and Sophie Sosa. In a video statement, Larrieu pleaded for help, asking anyone with planes or boats to look for signs of the missing family and bring them back alive.
Bahamian officials contacted the U.S. Coast Guard around 2 p.m. requesting assistance. The Coast Guard launched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft to help with the search.
The search was suspended due to bad weather, and it was unclear when it would resume.