By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

AN American family was left heartbroken yesterday after their four relatives who went missing when their plane crashed in waters off North Andros were found dead, bringing a desperate search effort to a tragic end.

“We are devastated and ready to bring them home,” Silvi Larreau, niece of the pilot, told The Tribune yesterday after the discovery.

The passengers, identified as pilot Mario Lamar, his wife, Lili, and their two grandchildren, Sofia Sosa and Christian Sosa, were pulled from the water by family members a day after their plane vanished near Red Bays, Andros.

The group were travelling aboard a US-registered Piper PA-34 aircraft, N212ML, from Great Harbour Cay to Opa-locka, Florida, after 11am Monday when the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control about 13 miles west of Andros.

Flight data shows the aircraft circling near Red Bays, North Andros, before losing altitude.

Relatives found one of the passengers yesterday morning after mobilising their own search teams and appealing for the public’s help amid apparent frustration with the official response to the missing aircraft.

“A civilian — one of our own family members — was the person who located our loved one and had to bring their deceased relative onto their own boat,” the family said in a statement. “At this time, neither Bahamian authorities nor the US Coast Guard are out there searching the waters.”

An hour later, the family confirmed the remaining passengers had also been found dead.

They credited relatives and locals for assisting with the search, but said it was family members who ultimately located their loved ones and brought them aboard their own vessels.

Royal Bahamas Defence Force officials appeared to respond to the family’s criticism yesterday, saying an aerial search had been conducted for “a few” hours before being supported by the US Coast Guard.

“Following reports that human remains had been recovered, the RBDF team based in Bimini made contact with the vessel transporting the remains as part of the ongoing operation,” the agency said.

The family said it is now working with the US Coast Guard to bring the bodies home and has asked for privacy as they mourn.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported us, searched alongside us and kept our family in their prayers.”

Mr Lamar and his family were returning home after spending their holiday at their vacation home in Great Harbour Cay.

The 80-year-old pilot had more than four decades of flying experience and was also an attorney.

His 22-year-old grandson, Christian, was a recent graduate who specialised in marketing and also worked as a freelance photographer, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Sofia, 28, worked as a neonatal physician assistant at a medical centre in Miami.

Relatives said they last heard from them Monday via a text message saying they were on their way home.

However, the family became concerned after hours passed without contact.

Police said they received a report about the missing aircraft around 2.20pm Monday. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA), US Coast Guard and local fishermen were among those who joined the search.

Officials said teams were slightly delayed in starting the operation because of bad weather and later suspended the search, but efforts resumed after conditions improved.

Ahead of yesterday’s discovery, family members of the missing passengers urged boaters to keep a lookout and called on authorities to mobilise additional search resources.

Asked about the response efforts yesterday, Ms Larreau said the family’s focus was on bringing their loved ones home rather than shifting blame.

Police said the recovered bodies will remain in custody in New Providence as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) confirmed yesterday it had opened a safety investigation into the crash, but said it was too early to determine the cause or any contributing factors.

It added that neither the aircraft nor any debris had been found and that it was working with the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other international agencies.

The RBDF added that efforts would continue to locate the missing aircraft, with divers conducting underwater searches.

“The sole objective of the AAIA safety investigation is the prevention of future accidents and incidents. It is not conducted for the purpose of apportioning blame or determining civil or criminal liability. The AAIA investigation is separate from search and rescue activities and from any judicial, law enforcement or regulatory investigation that may be undertaken by other authorities,” the AAIA said.