Context:

A small plane carrying four family members disappeared off the Bahamas while returning to Florida. After contact was lost about 13 miles west of Andros, Bahamian police and the U.S. Coast Guard joined the search, with an HC-144 Ocean Sentry deployed, though bad weather forced a suspension with no immediate resumption time. The flight, a PA-34 Piper five-seater, departed Great Harbour Cay en route to Miami, with the pilot identified as Mario Lamar and his wife Lily along with two grandchildren aboard. The incident prompted urgent pleas from relatives to help locate them and bring them home safely, as authorities coordinate across jurisdictions. The situation remains unresolved, with future steps contingent on weather and continued search efforts.

Dive Deeper:

• The aircraft was a PA-34 Piper five-seater with tail number N212ML, that departed Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands of the Bahamas and was headed to Miami Executive Airport in Florida.

• Passengers included Mario Lamar (the pilot), his wife Lily Lamar, and two grandchildren, Christian Sosa and Sophie Sosa.

• Air traffic control lost contact with the plane about 13 miles west of Andros Island, prompting Bahamian authorities to request assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard.

• Bahamas police and U.S. Coast Guard coordination led to the launch of an HC-144 Ocean Sentry to aid in the search.

• The search was suspended due to bad weather, and officials did not specify when it would resume.

• A relative, Silvia Larrieu, publicly identified the pilot as Mario Lamar and urged anyone with signs of the plane to help in the search.

• The official timeline notes the Bahamian authorities contacted the U.S. Coast Guard around 2 p.m. for assistance.