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Frantic search for victims as plane vanishes without a trace in Bahamas after plunging 7,000ft in seconds
A frantic search is underway in the Bahamas after a small plane carrying an 80-year-old pilot, his wife, and their two grandchildren disappeared without a trace shortly after taking off for Florida.
Bahamian and US authorities are searching for pilot Mario Lamar, 80, his wife Lili Lamar, 79, and their grandchildren Sofia Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22, after their aircraft vanished during a flight from Great Harbour Cay to Miami.
The family had spent Labor Day weekend at their home on Great Harbour Cay before Mario flew them back in the private plane.
The pilot and Lili’s niece, Silvia Larrieu, said the island held a special place in their lives.
"They’ve spent their whole life going there. That’s like their second home," she said, per The Sun.
Mario’s family said the 80-year-old had more than 40 years of flying experience and took great care of his aircraft.
The Lamar and Sosa families have released a statement asking authorities to continue using every available resource to locate the aircraft and the four people onboard.
"The Lamar and Sosa families are deeply grateful to everyone participating in the search and to those who have reached out with support," it read, per PEOPLE.
Plane disappears after sudden altitude drop
The PA-34 Piper aircraft disappeared from radar after its speed fluctuated and its altitude dropped dramatically.
The plane fell from 10,000 feet to 3,700 feet in just three minutes before disappearing.
Officials received a report that the aircraft, which was traveling to Opa-locka, had plunged into the water around 13 miles west of Andros Island at 2.20pm on Monday, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.
The family said they last heard from their loved ones through a text message from Sofia, who told them they were flying home.
After hours without contact, relatives checked the aircraft’s tracking data and saw a worrying flight path showing the plane looping in a circle before dropping off radar.
Search efforts continue in difficult conditions
Silvia has issued an emotional plea for help as rescue teams continue searching for the missing aircraft.
"We are begging you to please help us with your prayers and with the authorities. Anyone who has seen anything or who can go out by plane or boat to help us find them. We haven’t lost hope that we will find them on a raft," she said.
She said the plane encountered rough weather, which made the search for the wreckage more challenging.
The US Coast Guard said it was assisting the Royal Bahamas Defence Force "following a report of a downed aircraft with four souls onboard approx 15 mi off Andros Island".
It added that a Coast Guard "HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane is supporting the search," which remains ongoing.
The Defence Force said its search efforts had so far "yielded negative results".
Mario’s son also flew out to search for the aircraft himself as rescue operations were affected by poor weather conditions.
Our thoughts are with the victims' loved ones at this time.