4 Members of Florida Family Killed in Plane Crash

UPDATE Sep 8, 2026 1:37 PM CDT

There were no miracle survivors in the crash of a small plane in the Bahamas. Family members say the bodies of all four Floridians aboard the aircraft were recovered on Tuesday morning, reports ABC News. It's still not clear what caused the plane piloted by 80-year-old Mario Lamar to go down, but thunderstorms were reported. His wife and two grandchildren were also aboard.

Sep 8, 2026 5:27 AM CDT

A small plane carrying four Florida family members has disappeared in the Bahamas, triggering an intensive air-and-sea search. The PA-34 Piper, a five-seat aircraft, took off from Great Harbour Cay late Monday morning bound for Opa-locka, Florida, but dropped off radar about 13 miles west of Andros Island, Bahamian police said, per CNN. On board were 80-year-old pilot Mario Lamar, his 79-year-old wife Lili, and two grandchildren, Christian, 22, and Sofi Sosa, 28, the Miami Herald reports.

Flight data shows the plane, with tail number N212ML, circling off the Bahamian coast before vanishing amid thunderstorms; it's not yet clear if weather played a role. Police described a possible crash-landing "off the coast of Red Bays, North Andros," per the AP. The US Coast Guard is helping Bahamian authorities search waters west of Andros after an initial effort was delayed by rough conditions, and the family is urging anyone who saw or heard anything unusual to come forward.