The search for a Florida family of four missing after their small private plane crashed off the coast of Andros Island in the Bahamas has ended in tragedy. The bodies of all four people on board have been recovered from the crash site. The victims are pilot Mario Lamar, 80, his wife Lily Lamar, 79, and their two grandchildren, Sophie Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22.
The plane, a Piper PA-34, had departed from Great Harbour Cay in the Bahamas and was bound for Miami Executive Airport, Florida.
Contact with the control tower was lost about 13 miles west of Andros Island. A short time later, authorities received a report of a possible collision in the waters near Red Bay. Mario Lamar, who was flying the plane, had more than 40 years of experience as a pilot and regularly flew to the Bahamas. The family also had a vacation home in the area.
After the plane disappeared, relatives of the family joined the search effort. Eventually, family members and citizens involved in the search managed to locate the four people and retrieved the bodies with their boats. The U.S. Coast Guard also participated in the operation, but the search was hampered by bad weather conditions.
A Florida family left Great Harbor Cay yesterday morning to fly home to Miami. They never made it.
Mario Lamar, 80, was at the controls of his Piper PA-34. His wife Lili, 79, was in the cabin with their grandkids Sofia Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22. Sofia texted the family... pic.twitter.com/853i2ahQkL
— Arkadalo® (@Arkadalo) September 8, 2026
The family has thanked all those who contributed to the search operation, while requesting respect for their privacy at this painful moment.
