The US Coast Guard has joined the search for a small plane carrying four family members from Florida that authorities in the Bahamas believe may have crash-landed in the ocean.
The plane, a PA-34 Piper five-seater aircraft, was heading to Opa-locka, Florida, from Great Harbour Cay in the Bahamas, where the family had been visiting a vacation property over Labor Day weekend. The four passengers on board were identified as Mario Lamar, 80, his wife Lili, 79, and their grandchildren Sofia Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22.
According to data from FlightAware, the plane descended from 10,000 feet to 3,700 feet in just three minutes before disappearing from radar. The Royal Bahamas Police Force received a report around 2:20 p.m. on Monday that an aircraft may have gone down in the waters off Red Bays.
The US Coast Guard Southeast has confirmed that it is assisting authorities in the Bahamas in the search for the missing plane, with a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane joining the effort. The Royal Bahamas Police Force said that air traffic control lost contact with the plane approximately 13 miles west of Andros Island, and that the search was postponed due to inclement weather.
The family of the missing passengers is seeking help with search and rescue efforts, with Silvia Larrieu, the niece of the couple, appealing to anyone who can assist in bringing them home.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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