American Family Missing After Apparent Small Plane Crash in Bahamas
Bahamas Plane Crash 2 Grandparents, 2 Grandkids Missing ... Desperate Search Underway
Published
Police launched a desperate search for an American family after their small plane apparently crashed off the coast of the Bahamas ... and officials say two grandparents and their two grandchildren were on board.
In a statement, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said a PA-34 Piper five-seater aircraft with four people aboard took off from Great Harbour Cay late Monday morning en route to Opa-locka, Florida, and apparently crashed about 45 minutes later off the coast of Red Bays, North Andros in the Bahamas.
It's unclear what caused the plane to plummet.
The RBPF also said air traffic control lost contact with the plane about 13 miles west of Andros Island, noting that bad weather had prevented them from searching for the family for a period of time.
Citing a family statement, ABC News identified the passengers as 80-year-old Mario Lamar Sr., 79-year-old Lili Lamar, 28-year-old Sofia Sosa, and 22-year-old Christian Sosa.
According to the statement, the plane was bound for Miami Executive Airport, and its last known contact was approximately 11:04 AM near the western side of Andros Island.
The statement also referred to Mario as "an experienced pilot with more than 40 years of flying experience."
The family is asking Bahamian officials and all other agencies to "work together and deploy every available resource to locate the aircraft and its four occupants as quickly as possible."
