FAMILY OF FOUR VANISHES OVER THE BAHAMAS — THEN THE SEARCH ENDS IN TRAGEDY

What began as a frantic search for a missing family of four has ended in heartbreak.

An elderly couple and their two grandchildren were aboard a small private plane that disappeared while flying from the Bahamas toward Florida. Hours later, relatives began desperately searching for answers.

By Tuesday, the search had turned into a recovery mission.

The four victims were identified as Mario Lamar Sr., 80, his wife Lili Lamar, 79, and their grandchildren Sofi Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22. Family members said all four bodies were recovered near the aircraft’s last known location off North Andros Island.

THE FLIGHT HOME

The family had spent the Labor Day weekend at their home on Great Harbour Cay in the Bahamas.

Mario Lamar, an experienced pilot with more than 40 years of flying experience, was flying the family back toward Miami.

The aircraft was a Piper PA-34, a small twin-engine plane bearing registration N212ML.

According to authorities and the family, the aircraft departed Great Harbour Cay on September 7 and was bound for Miami Executive Airport.

Its last recorded contact came near the western side of Andros Island.

Air traffic control subsequently lost contact with the aircraft approximately 13 miles west of the island.

THEN THE PLANE DISAPPEARED

Concern quickly grew when family members realized they were no longer receiving messages from those aboard.

Relatives checked the aircraft’s flight information and saw a troubling pattern before it vanished from tracking.

Flight data reported by The Sun showed the aircraft dropping rapidly in altitude, falling from around 10,000 feet to approximately 3,700 feet within about three minutes.

The plane then disappeared from radar.

Authorities received reports that the aircraft may have gone down in waters near Red Bays, North Andros.

The search was complicated by poor weather conditions.

The U.S. Coast Guard deployed an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft to assist Bahamian authorities, while the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association also became involved.

A FAMILY SEARCHES FOR ITS OWN

As official search efforts continued, relatives also joined the desperate effort to locate the missing family.

Silvia Larrieu, the couple’s niece, publicly appealed for help, asking anyone with a boat or aircraft who could assist to join the search.

The family knew the route well.

According to relatives, Mario had been flying for more than four decades and frequently traveled between Florida and the Bahamas.

His niece also described the aircraft as being kept in pristine condition.

That made the sudden disappearance even harder for the family to understand.

THE SEARCH TURNS TO TRAGEDY

On Tuesday, the family’s worst fears were confirmed.

Relatives located the bodies of the four people aboard the aircraft.

According to the family, relatives and civilians involved in the search ultimately recovered their loved ones and brought them aboard their own vessels. The U.S. Coast Guard assisted with the recovery effort.

The family later released a statement thanking everyone who had helped search for Mario, Lili, Sofi and Christian.

They also asked for privacy as they mourned the loss.

WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH?

That question remains unanswered.

Authorities have not announced a definitive cause of the crash, and the investigation is ongoing.

Weather conditions were reportedly difficult at the time of the search, but officials have not said that weather was responsible for the aircraft’s sudden loss of altitude.

Investigators will ultimately have to determine what happened during the final minutes of the flight and why the aircraft went down.

For the Lamar family, however, the investigation comes after a devastating conclusion to a journey that was supposed to be a routine flight home.

An experienced pilot.

A familiar route.

A family of four heading back to Florida.

And then, without warning, the aircraft disappeared.

Four lives were lost — and investigators are now left searching for the answers behind the final moments of the flight.