The bodies of four individuals aboard a missing private plane, which vanished during a flight from the Bahamas to Miami, were recovered on Tuesday by relatives using their own boats, as reported by Telemundo 51.
The victims were identified as Mario Lamar, aged 80; his wife, Lili Lamar, aged 79; and their grandchildren, Sofía Sosa, aged 28, and Christian Sosa, aged 22.
The aircraft, a Piper PA-34 Seneca with registration N212ML, departed from Great Harbour Cay—where the family owned a second home—around 10:12 a.m. on Monday, heading for Miami Executive Airport.
The final recorded contact occurred near 11:04 a.m., close to the western side of Andros Island. Tracking data indicated the plane descended rapidly from about 10,000 feet to 3,700 feet within just three minutes, made a circular motion, and then disappeared from radar. Authorities believe the crash might have occurred approximately 13 to 15 miles west of Andros.
Search and Rescue Efforts
The disappearance of the plane, carrying four people, sparked a search operation that included the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and the United States Coast Guard, which deployed an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft.
Adverse weather conditions in the area temporarily halted the search efforts on Monday, and by the end of the day, Bahamian authorities had not located any trace of the aircraft.
A family member, navigating a private boat, discovered the first body, that of Sofía Sosa. "What is particularly heartbreaking is that a civilian, one of our own relatives, found our loved one and had to bring their deceased family member aboard their own vessel. We are shattered and in despair," the family stated in a release.
The four bodies remain under police custody in the Bahamas, and the family is arranging with the U.S. Coast Guard to repatriate the remains.
About the Lamar Family
Mario Lamar piloted the aircraft. According to his family, he was "an experienced pilot with over 40 years of flying experience."
His niece, Silvi Larreau, emphasized that the trip was routine: "My uncle is a lifelong pilot with a lot of experience, and they were just taking off as usual, like he has done all his life."
Lamar, who had practiced law since 1973 according to the Florida Bar Association, operated a law office in Miami. His wife, Lili Lamar, was his travel companion along with their grandchildren.
Sofía and Christian Sosa
Sofía Sosa, known as Sofi, worked as a neonatal medical assistant at Kidz Medical Services in Coral Gables. She graduated in 2016 from Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, which paid tribute to her on social media: "As the Carrollton community, especially our alumnae family, we continue to hold in our hearts and prayers those affected by this tragedy."
Her brother, Christian Sosa, was a 22-year-old freelance photographer who graduated from Loyola Marymount University's M-School in Los Angeles. Just weeks before the tragedy, he shared on LinkedIn his experience covering the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League: "Photographing in the NFL was surreal. It's the job my younger self dreamed of when spending summers in Miami photographing training camps as a fan."
Key Information About the Plane Crash
What type of aircraft was involved in the crash?
The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-34 Seneca with registration N212ML.
Who were the victims of the plane crash?
The victims were Mario Lamar, his wife Lili Lamar, and their grandchildren Sofía Sosa and Christian Sosa.
What triggered the search for the missing plane?
The search was initiated after the plane lost contact and disappeared from radar during its flight from the Bahamas to Miami.