Relatives joined civilians in searching waters near Andros Island after the small plane failed to reach South Florida.
MIAMI, FL — Four members of a Miami-area family were found dead Tuesday after relatives launched their own search for a small plane that disappeared while flying from the Bahamas to South Florida, according to family members and authorities.
The four were identified by relatives as Mario Lamar, 80; his wife, Lili Lamar, 79; and their grandchildren, Sofi Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22. Lamar, an experienced pilot, was flying the Piper PA-34 when it departed Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands on Monday for Miami Executive Airport. Bahamas police said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft when it was about 13 miles west of Andros Island.
The disappearance set off a search involving Bahamian authorities, the U.S. Coast Guard, relatives and civilians. Family members initially announced Tuesday morning that one body had been recovered by a relative searching from a civilian boat. Later Tuesday, the family said all four people aboard the aircraft had been found dead.
“It is with profound sadness that we confirm all four of our family members have been found deceased,” the family said in an updated statement. Relatives said family members and civilians took part in the search and recovery effort and that relatives ultimately brought their loved ones aboard their own vessels.
The family had spent the long weekend at a second home in Great Harbour Cay and was returning to South Florida, relatives said. Lamar had more than 40 years of flying experience and regularly made trips between Florida and the Bahamas. Family members described the route as one he had flown many times.
Bahamas police identified the missing aircraft as a five-seat PA-34 Piper with tail number N212ML. Authorities said it disappeared near North Andros after leaving Great Harbour Cay. Reports from authorities placed its last known location roughly 13 to 15 miles from Andros Island, depending on the agency describing the search area.
The U.S. Coast Guard said it was assisting Bahamian authorities after receiving a request for help Monday following a report of a downed aircraft. Bad weather affected portions of the search, according to Bahamian officials. A Coast Guard aircraft was assisting again Tuesday as recovery efforts continued.
Before all four bodies were located, relatives publicly appealed for additional help from boaters, fishermen and pilots in the region. They said members of the family had gone onto the water themselves to search. NBC 6 reported that relatives also located debris believed to be from the aircraft during their effort.
The circumstances that caused the plane to go down have not been established. Authorities had not announced a cause Tuesday, and no verified information had been released indicating whether weather, a mechanical problem or another factor contributed to the disappearance. Family members said Lamar maintained the aircraft carefully and was familiar with the route, but those statements do not establish what happened during the flight.
The family said it was working with the U.S. Coast Guard on arrangements to bring the remains home. Bahamian authorities were also expected to continue work connected to the aircraft’s disappearance and recovery. The family asked for privacy as relatives mourned the four deaths.
Author note: Last updated September 8, 2026.