Last Text Message Then Silence: Florida Grandparents and Grandkids Vanish Mid-Flight After Plane Plunges Off Bahamas Coast
A Florida family remains missing after their small private plane disappeared over waters near the Bahamas on Monday, September 7, 2026, while returning from a Labor Day weekend at their vacation home. Authorities from the Bahamas and the United States have launched an intensive search-and-rescue operation.
The aircraft, a PA-34 Piper twin-engine plane registered N212ML, departed Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands around 11:12 a.m. local time. It was bound for the Miami area, with reports listing destinations including Miami Executive Airport or Opa-locka. On board were pilot Mario Lamar, 80, his wife Lili Lamar, 79, and their two grandchildren, Sofia Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22.
Mario Lamar, described by relatives as an experienced pilot with more than 40 years of flying experience, maintained the plane in excellent condition and carried required safety equipment. The family had long treated their Great Harbour Cay property as a second home, spending many years enjoying sunsets and holidays there. Sofia Sosa is a recent graduate of Wake Forest University, while her brother Christian recently graduated from Loyola Marymount University.
Trouble became evident through flight-tracking data. The plane’s speed began fluctuating rapidly, and its altitude dropped sharply from approximately 10,000 feet to 3,700 feet within three minutes. The aircraft appeared to circle or loop before vanishing from radar roughly 13 miles west of Andros Island, the largest island in the Bahamas. Bahamian authorities received a report of a possible crash-landing in the waters off Red Bays in North Andros around 2:20 p.m.
Air traffic control lost contact with the flight in that area. Family members grew alarmed when a group chat fell silent. Sofia had sent a final text message indicating they were departing for home; subsequent messages went unanswered. Relatives then checked online flight-tracking services and discovered the abrupt changes in the plane’s path and altitude.
Search efforts involve the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard deployed an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft after Bahamian officials requested assistance following the report of a downed plane with four people aboard approximately 15 miles off Andros Island. Initial searches were hampered by rough weather and storms in the region. Poor conditions forced a temporary suspension of operations Monday evening, with hopes of resuming once visibility and seas improved.
As of the latest updates on September 8, no wreckage or survivors had been located. The search continues under challenging maritime conditions typical of the area. Officials are coordinating efforts from Andros Island, focusing on the waters near the last known position.
The incident highlights the risks of private flights over open water, even for experienced pilots. Weather appears to have played a role in both the flight path and the subsequent rescue delays, though the exact cause of the disappearance remains under investigation. Flight data showing rapid altitude loss and circling suggests possible mechanical issues, weather encounters, or other factors, but confirmation awaits recovery of the aircraft.
Family members have publicly appealed for assistance from anyone with boats, planes, or information that could aid the search. They emphasize the urgent need to locate their loved ones and bring them home. The joint U.S.-Bahamian operation continues to scan the area as weather permits, with the Coast Guard and local forces committed to the effort.
The four family members left Florida for a short holiday and have not been heard from since the plane lost contact. Their absence has left relatives in South Florida anxiously awaiting any positive developments from the ongoing search.
