THE PILOT of missing airplane Mario Lamar pictured with his wife Lili, and grandchildren (inset) Christian and Sofia Sosa
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A MASSIVE search effort is underway for the remaining family members aboard an aircraft that went missing in waters off North Andros yesterday while returning home from a holiday in Great Harbour Cay.
The passengers, identified as pilot Mario Lamar, his wife, Lili, and their two grandchildren, Sofia Sosa and Christian Sosa, were travelling aboard a US-registered Piper PA-34 aircraft, N212ML, from Great Harbour Cay to Opa-locka, Florida, when the aircraft encountered problems.
They were returning home after spending their holiday at their vacation home in Great Harbour Cay.
In a poster released Tuesday, the family confirmed that one of their relatives had been found dead but declined to identify the person, citing privacy concerns.
Relatives said they last heard from them Monday via a text message saying they were on their way home.
However, the family became concerned after hours without contact.
The pilot was described by relatives as an experienced, well trained captain while the aircraft was said to be in good condition and equipped with all the necessary safety gear.
Police said the five-seater aircraft departed shortly after 10am and lost contact with air traffic control about 13 miles west of Andros.
Flight data shows the aircraft circling near Red Bay, North Andros, before losing altitude.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association and US Coast Guard were notified of the missing aircraft and joined the search.
The Tribune was also told that local fishermen assisted in the operation.
However, initial searches of the aircraft’s last known position in waters off the west coast of North Andros yielded no results up to press time last night.
Police later suspended their search due to deteriorating weather conditions, but resumed efforts after conditions improved.
Lieutenant Darius Adams, the RBDF’s public relations officer, told The Tribune last night that the Defence Force’s search efforts would continue through the night.
He said teams were slightly delayed in starting the operation because of bad weather and that seas remained choppy, but the conditions would not deter them.
“We have another flight that's going out first light,” he said. “Family friends have another boat coming out of Florida that is coming to also assist with the rescue and they also had somebody that was also here in The Bahamas that got another vessel to go out there as well.”
Police said locating the aircraft and its occupants remained a priority and promised to provide updates as they become available.
Family members, meanwhile, are appealing for the public’s help, saying they desperately want their loved ones home.
Comments
licks2 19 hours, 11 minutes ago
I am impressed about how we responded. . .good show Bahamas!! Even though I don't hold out much hope for the family. . .I am distressed about their apparent loss! Nevertheless, the Bahamas stepped-up to the plate like champions! Good show guys!!
B_I_D___ 9 hours, 4 minutes ago
You must be living on a different planet…all over the press on the LACK of search and rescue efforts from both the Bahamas and the US that have a base there in North Andros.
rosiepi 7 hours, 55 minutes ago
About the same time you posted this ‘atta boy’ for Bahamian rescue efforts the Lamar family announced they’d recovered one deceased family member’s body. A few hours later they announced the recovery of all their dead relatives, pulling their bodies from the sea themselves.
Yes there were localized storms at Bahamas Air Traffic lost contact with the plane just after 11AM but these storms didn’t last all day. Moreover videos show the family setting out to search from the Bahamas in calm conditions Monday evening.
So the questions are: why did the Bahamas wait 3 hours after the plane had presumably went down to call the US Coast Guard? Why did the RBDF & RBPD which have far larger ships to ride out “deteriorating conditions” than these family members used not continue (or start?) searching? How were they able to make this recovery in the same area supposedly being searched by Bahamas authorities?
And lastly what does it say about the dedication to their mission, and ability of Bahamas official government rescue ops to carry out that mission? That the same day that their Father’s, their Grandfather’s plane disappeared they launched their own rescue mission? What propelled them to set out themselves, appeal directly to boaters, pilots & fishermen (presumably in the absence of any from Bahamian authorities) and hire private rescue ops to assist in their recovery of their family members?
Makes one shiver to think of any reliance we might need…
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