Four Floridians – 80‑year‑old pilot Mario Lamar, his 79‑year‑old wife Lili, and their grandchildren Sofia Sosa (28) and Christian Sosa (22) – disappeared on Monday while flying a PA‑34 Piper from Great Harbour Cay in the Bahamas to Opa‑Locka, Florida. The aircraft, tail‑number N212ML, was reported missing about 13 miles west of Andros Island after radar contact was lost.
Search effort expands with U.S. Coast Guard support
The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed the loss of contact at approximately 11:12 a.m. local time and immediately notified U.S. authorities. The Coast Guard’s Southeast region dispatched an HC‑144 Ocean Sentry aircraft to assist in the search, citing a report of a downed aircraft with four souls aboard roughly 15 miles off Andros Island.
According to FlightAware data, the Piper descended rapidly from 10,000 feet to 3,700 feet within three minutes before vanishing from radar. The Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) also joined the effort, though inclement weather forced a temporary pause until conditions improve.
Family pleads for help
Silvia Larrieu, the niece of Mario and Lili, appealed to the public in the Miami Herald, asking anyone with information to come forward. “Please help,” she wrote. “We need to bring them home.” The family had been returning to Florida after a Labor Day weekend visit to a vacation property on Great Harbour Cay, a destination they have frequented for decades.
Pilot’s experience noted
Larrieu emphasized that Mario Lamar had many years of piloting experience and maintained the aircraft in “pristine” condition. While the circumstances of the disappearance remain unclear, authorities are treating the incident as a possible crash‑landing rather than a mechanical failure, pending further investigation.
What’s next?
The Coast Guard and Bahamian rescue teams will resume the search as soon as weather permits. Residents of the Florida Keys and the broader Miami area have been urged to stay alert for any sightings or debris that could aid investigators. Updates will be provided as the joint operation progresses.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Lamar family during this difficult time. We will continue to monitor the situation and report any new developments.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
