Tessa Everly
A tragic incident has unfolded in the Bahamas, where a Florida couple and their grandchildren were discovered deceased after their plane crashed. The pilot, Mario Lamar, the grandfather, was at the controls when the aircraft went missing near North Andros Island on Monday, September 7.
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Florida Family Confirmed Dead After Plane Crash
The Florida family, consisting of the couple and their grandchildren, vanished when the plane lost contact over the Atlantic Ocean. They were reportedly returning from a vacation on Great Harbour Cay when the tragic event occurred.
Found deceased were Mario Lamar, 80; his wife Lili Lamar, 79; their granddaughter Sofia Sosa, 28; and grandson Christian Sosa, 22. The Miami Herald confirmed that all four were located near the North Andros Islands, with Mario Lamar piloting the plane at the time of the incident.
“The search and recovery mission involved family members and community volunteers who responded to our plea for assistance,” stated family member Silvia Larrieu on Tuesday. “Ultimately, our relatives found our loved ones and had to bring them back on their own boats. We are incredibly thankful to everyone who supported us, assisted in the search, and kept our family in their thoughts and prayers. We kindly request privacy as we cope with this unimaginable loss.”
Missing Private Plane Reported Over The Atlantic Ocean
The Royal Bahamas Police Force reported that they received a notification regarding the missing aircraft around 2:20 p.m. It vanished approximately 13 miles from the North Andros Islands. The plane, a PA-34 Piper five-seater, was under the command of Lamar. “Local police on Andros are coordinating the efforts to locate an aircraft believed to have crash-landed near Red Bays, North Andros,” the police report stated.
“Police received notification at roughly 2:20 p.m. on Monday, September 7, 2026, indicating that an aircraft may have gone down in the waters off Red Bays. Following this, the Police Control Room in New Providence contacted Air Traffic Control. Information from the Operations Officer verified that a PA-34 Piper five-seater aircraft with tail number N212ML departed Great Harbour Cay at around 11:12 a.m., bound for Opa-locka, Florida, with four individuals on board. Air Traffic Control lost contact with the aircraft approximately 13 miles west of Andros Island.”
The report indicated that the search efforts were delayed due to adverse weather conditions.
Christian and Sofia Sosa’s father participated in the search for his family, along with two brothers and an uncle, until all four bodies were recovered, according to The New York Post.
Experienced Pilot: Grandfather’s Flying Background
Silvia Larreau remarked that Lamar was a seasoned pilot who had been flying for his “entire life,” as reported by NBC6.
“My uncle was a lifelong, highly skilled pilot,” Larreau stated. “They were departing just as they always have, as he has throughout his entire life.”
The family shared their grief over the tragic circumstances surrounding the discovery of their loved ones.
“What adds to the devastation is that a civilian, one of our family members, was the one who found our loved one and had to bring their deceased relative onto their own boat,” the statement expressed.
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What Do You Think Roomies?
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Ivy Caldwell
