Search and rescue teams alongside local family members recovered the remains of four South Florida residents following a fatal aviation accident off the coast of the Bahamas. Authorities confirmed that all four individuals aboard a Piper PA-34 twin-engine aircraft died when the light plane crashed into ocean waters while en route to South Florida, after spending the Labor Day weekend in the Bahamas.
The aircraft, registered as N212ML, departed Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands at about 10:12 a.m. Monday and was headed to Miami Executive Airport. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane around 11:04 a.m., about 13 miles west of Andros Island. Radar information indicated the twin-engine plane experienced rapid altitude and velocity fluctuations while traveling through an area of severe weather, descending several thousand feet in a matter of minutes.
Bahamas authorities and the U.S. Coast Guard launched a search after receiving reports of a possible crash near Red Bays, North Andros. The Coast Guard deployed an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft to assist, but bad weather complicated the initial response. Relatives also organized their own search by boat, ultimately locating and recovering the victims, according to Silvia Larrieu, Lamar’s niece. Family members identified the victims as 80-year-old aviator Mario Lamar, his 79-year-old wife Lili Lamar, and their two grandchildren, 28-year-old Sofia Sosa and 22-year-old Christian Sosa. Larrieu said her uncle had more than 40 years of flying experience and regularly traveled between Miami and the Bahamas, where he maintained a second home. She also said Lamar was meticulous about maintaining his aircraft.
The cause of the crash has not been determined, an authorities have not publicly provided details about what happened to the aircraft after it lost contact with air traffic control.
Editorial credit: Philip Pilosian / Shutterstock.com