A South Florida family’s journey home from the Bahamas turned tragic when their small plane vanished over water on Monday. All four aboard—pilot Mario Lamar Sr., 80; his wife Lili Lamar, 79; and their grandchildren Sofia Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22—were discovered dead Tuesday by relatives who joined the search by boat.

The family departed Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands on Monday, September 7, en route to the Miami area. The aircraft was a twin-engine Piper PA-34 with tail number N212ML.

Bahamian authorities reported air traffic control lost contact approximately 13 miles west of Andros Island, roughly 150 miles southeast of Miami. At around 2 p.m. Monday, Bahamian police requested assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard deployed an aircraft to aid the search and returned Tuesday, when family members and civilians had also taken boats into the area to continue efforts.

Silvia Larrieu, a niece of Mario Lamar, stated the family became alarmed when communication ceased. Sofia had informed her parents in a family chat that they were leaving, and the flight plan indicated expected arrival time. Sofia works as a neonatal physician assistant in Miami, while Christian is a recent graduate of Loyola Marymount University. Mario Lamar, with over 40 years of flying experience, maintained a second home at Great Harbour Cay and was known to make this trip frequently.

The family confirmed they had spent the Labor Day weekend in the Bahamas. They left Great Harbour Cay around 10:12 a.m. on Monday and lost contact near Andros Island roughly an hour later. A Royal Bahamas official noted investigators were examining whether the pilot diverted to avoid bad weather. The search was suspended due to deteriorating conditions, but relatives continued efforts by boat.

In a statement, the family expressed gratitude to civilians and authorities who assisted in the search. They emphasized that relatives brought their loved ones aboard their own vessels and were working with the Coast Guard to return them home with dignity. No cause for the crash has been identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.