US Coast Guard joins frantic Bahamas search for missing family plane

On Monday a tiny, five‑seat PA‑34 Piper took off from Great Harbour Cay, aiming for Miami‑Executive Airport. On board were pilot Mario Lamar, his wife Lily, and their two grandchildren, Christian and Sophie Sosa.

Not long after departure, air‑traffic control lost contact with the aircraft when it was roughly 13 miles west of Andros Island. The Bahamas police immediately began a search, but the scope of the operation quickly outgrew local resources.

At around 2 p.m., Bahamian officials reached out to the United States Coast Guard, requesting assistance. The Coast Guard’s Southeast District command center responded by dispatching an HC‑144 Ocean Sentry patrol aircraft to join the effort.

“We’re coordinating with Bahamian authorities and will do everything we can to locate the missing plane,” a Coast Guard spokesperson said. The joint team combed the sea and sky, hoping to spot any sign of the aircraft or debris.

Family member Silvia Larrieu, who posted a video interview with Miami’s WSVN, pleaded for help. “If anyone saw anything—by plane, by boat, even a floating piece—please let us know. We just want them back alive,” she said, her voice trembling.

Unfortunately, the search hit a snag when worsening weather forced crews to pause operations. Authorities have not yet announced when conditions will improve enough to resume the hunt.

The mystery remains: did the plane suffer a forced landing near Red Bays on North Andros, as police suspect, or did something else happen? The families of the missing and the international community are watching closely, hoping for answers and a safe return.