A private plane carrying a Florida couple and their two grandchildren crashed into the ocean on Monday afternoon. According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, a five-seater Piper aircraft crashed 13 miles west of Andros Island at 2:20 p.m., prompting an active search for pilot Mario Lamar, his wife Lili Lamar, and their two adult grandchildren. Bahamian authorities received the report of the crash shortly after the plane vanished from radar.
The aircraft departed from Great Harbor Cay that morning for Opa-locka, Florida. Data from FlightAware indicates the plane’s speed varied quickly before falling from 10,000 feet to 3,700 feet within three minutes. The Miami couple and their family had been spending the Labor Day weekend at their vacation home before the tragedy struck.
Silvia Larrieu, a niece of the pilot, spoke to the Miami Herald about the family’s deep connection to the island. She told the outlet, according to the New York Post, “They’ve spent their whole life going there. That’s like their second home.” Larrieu also issued a public plea for assistance in a video statement.
The flight passed through rough weather near the north end of Andros Island. Larrieu explained that this bad weather stopped Bahamian forces from searching for the wreckage immediately. The US Coast Guard is now assisting authorities with an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane. The agency confirmed its involvement in a statement on social media.
The pilot, Mario Lamar, was 80 years old and had a long history in aviation. His family told ABC News that he was well-trained and possessed “more than 40 years of flying experience.” The two passengers on board were his grandchildren, Sofia Sosa and Christian Sosa.
Search teams are currently working to locate the downed aircraft in the water. The family continues to wait for news as the rescue operation moves forward. Per reports, the community is rallying around the Lamar family during this difficult time.
