'He Always Does This': Pilot, 80, Wife and Grandchildren Found Dead After Plane Vanishes on Familiar Bahamas-To-Miami Route

Four members of a South Florida family were found dead in the ocean after their light aircraft vanished on a flight from the Bahamas to Miami, with relatives ultimately recovering the bodies themselves after taking to the water to join the search.

The victims were named as pilot Mario Lamar Sr, 80, his wife Lili, 79, and their grandchildren, Sofi Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22. All four were confirmed dead on Tuesday, a day after their Piper PA-34 aircraft lost contact with air traffic control roughly 13 miles west of Andros Island in the Bahamas.

'He always does this. The weather seemed fine,' Mario's niece, Silvia Larrieu, told Local 10 News, describing her uncle as a lifelong and highly experienced pilot who kept his aircraft 'in pristine condition'.

Weekend Getaway Ends in Disaster Over the Bahamas

The family had spent the weekend at Mario's apartment in the Bahamas before boarding the five-seater plane at Great Harbour Cay on Monday morning, bound for Miami Executive Airport in Opa-locka. Two other grandchildren who had joined the trip were not on the return flight.

According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the aircraft, tail number N212ML, was reported missing after departing Great Harbour Cay for Miami. Flight-tracking data cited by Larrieu appeared to show the plane approaching an area of bad weather before changing course, although it has not been established whether weather contributed to the crash.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft when it was about 13 miles west of Andros Island. The cause of the crash has not been established.

Weather Complicates Search for Missing Plane

The Bahamian police force said it alerted the US Coast Guard at around 2pm local time on Monday. A joint search involving the Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force began but was later suspended due to poor weather, prompting mounting alarm among relatives in Florida.

Larrieu said the mother of Sofi and Christian raised the alarm with authorities after her children failed to check in at their expected landing time.

Family's Own Search Finds Bodies After Official Effort Suspended

Before the bodies were recovered, the family issued a public appeal, saying they were unaware of any active search under way and were 'heartbroken and desperate'. They called on 'anyone with a boat, anyone on the water, fishermen, members of the boating community, and other civilians who can safely assist'.

The appeal drew a swift response, with a fleet of private boats joining the effort. It was this civilian search, coordinated by relatives, that located the bodies roughly 15 miles off Andros Island on Tuesday.

By Tuesday afternoon the family said it was in contact with the US Coast Guard to arrange the return of their relatives' remains.

In a statement, the family said it was 'with profound sadness' that they confirmed all four had been found dead, adding that recovery had been carried out 'alongside family members and civilians who answered our call for help,' who had pulled the bodies from the water and brought them aboard their own vessels.

Cause of Crash Remains Unknown

Bahamian officials have not yet released a formal cause of the crash. It remains unclear what caused the aircraft to go down or whether weather played a role in the incident.

The family said Lamar had more than 40 years of flying experience and described him as a cautious pilot who kept his aircraft in pristine condition. Larrieu also said the route was one Lamar had flown many times before.

The family has asked for privacy, thanking 'everyone who supported us, searched alongside us, and kept our family in their prayers'.