ANDROS ISLAND, Bahamas. — One body has been found after a small plane carrying four relatives disappeared Monday off the coast of the Bahamas, family members confirmed Tuesday.
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Relatives said the body was discovered by another family member who was out searching the waters for them.
“Out of respect for our loved one and our family’s privacy, we are not releasing the individual’s name at this time,” the family said in a statement. “What is especially devastating is that a civilian, one of our own family members, was the person who located our loved one and had to bring their deceased relative onto their own boat.”
Relative Silvi Larrieu spoke to Local 10 earlier Tuesday morning.
“We are devastated,” she said. “We’re still cautiously optimistic because we’re still searching and we want to bring them home, and we’re committed to bringing them home.”
Larrieu said her uncle, 80-year-old Mario Lamar Sr., was piloting the plane. His wife, Lili, 79, and their grandchildren, Sofia Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22, were also on board.
The four had traveled to the Bahamas for the holiday weekend, a trip Larrieu said her uncle had made countless times during his more than 40 years as a pilot.
“He always does this. The weather seemed fine,” Larrieu said. “My uncle maintained the plane in pristine condition. He was always on top of it. Anytime he was here in Miami, he would always be at the hangar working on his plane and ensuring it was up-to-date.”
According to Larrieu, the four took off from Great Harbour Cay at approximately 10:12 a.m. Monday.
About an hour later, the plane lost contact near Andros Island, she said.
Bahamas police identified the plane as a PA-34 Piper five-seater aircraft, with tail number N212ML. Police confirmed it departed Great Harbour Cay, a city in the Berry Islands of the Bahamas, and was headed to Opa-locka.
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Air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft when it was about 13 miles west of Andros Island, Bahamas police said.
The family has since hired a private search-and-rescue team to help locate their loved ones.
They are also asking fishermen, boaters and pilots who may have been in the area Monday to come forward with any information about what they may have seen that could assist in the search.
“We are heartbroken and desperate,” relatives said in their statement. “As of this moment, we are not aware of authorities actively searching the waters for our remaining missing family members. We are begging for help.
“We are asking anyone with a boat, anyone on the water, fishermen, members of the boating community, and other civilians who can safely assist to please help us search. At the same time, we are urgently pleading with the appropriate authorities to mobilize resources and assist in this search.”
Bahamian officials said they contacted the U.S. Coast Guard at about 2 p.m. Monday and requested assistance finding the downed plane, but the search had to be suspended due to bad weather. It was not clear when it would resume.
“Every minute matters,” relatives said. “This is a family desperately trying to find their loved ones, and we should not have to do this alone.
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“Please help us bring our family members home.”
Despite the uncertainty, the family is holding on to hope.
“We believe in miracles,” Larrieu said.
