Body recovered after small plane crash off Bahamas
A body has been recovered Tuesday following a small plane crash carrying two grandparents and two adult grandchildren, according to family members.
"At approximately 2 p.m. the Royal Bahamian Defense Force requested Coast Guard assistance following a report of a downed airplane with four people aboard approximately 15 miles off Andros Island, Bahamas," the Coast Guard said in a statement Monday evening, adding that it was assisting Bahamian authorities with the search.
A family statement provided to ABC News identified the passengers as Mario Lamar Sr., 80, and Lili Lamar, 79, and their grandchildren Sofi Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22. Mario Lamar is "an experienced pilot with more than 40 years of flying experience," according to the family.
In the statement, the family said relatives had found a body in the water. The identity of that body was not immediately revealed.
"Every minute matters. This is a family desperately trying to find their loved ones, and we should not have to do this alone," the family said.
The Bahamas Police Department identified the plane as a PA-34 Piper five-seater aircraft. It took off from Great Harbour Cay around 11:12 a.m. Monday and was bound for Miami Executive Airport, officials said.
"Air Traffic Control subsequently lost contact with the aircraft approximately 13 miles west of Andros Island," Bahamas Police said, adding that poor weather had postponed the search.
The family called on the authorities to mobilize more resources and asked others in the area to help.
"We are asking anyone with a boat, anyone on the water, fishermen, members of the boating community, and other civilians who can safely assist to please help us search," the family said.
