Search for Missing Plane Turns Tragic, Human Remains Recovered

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THE BAHAMAS – A search that began with four people missing has now turned into tragedy.

Human remains have been recovered following the crash of a small aircraft off North Andros. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force telling our news that the search continues and the investigation is far from over.

The search for four people aboard a small plane that disappeared off North Andros has turned into tragedy.

Among those on board were Mario Lamar, a pilot with 40 years of flying experience, his wife, Lili Lamar, and their two grandchildren.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirming that human remains have been recovered following Monday’s plane crash off the coast of Red Bays, North Andros.

The aircraft, a five-seat PA-34 Piper with tail number N-212ML, disappeared from radar shortly after 10 Monday morning.

It had departed Great Harbour Cay Airport and was en route to Miami Executive Airport.

The discovery of the remains has also raised questions about the search effort, after it was learned that family members were among those who went looking for their loved ones.

I spoke exclusively with Lieutenant Darius Adams, public relations officer for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

He tells me the Defence Force was not the only resource involved in the search, and that the response was a coordinated effort due to limited manpower.

Lt. Darius Adams – Public Relations Officer, RBDF
“We don’t only do search and rescue operations. We also do migrant interdiction operations as well. So what we do is we coordinate, and once a vessel or aircraft becomes available, we send it out there right away to assist in operations.”

Adams tells our news that after a family member discovered some remains Monday evening, the Defence Force made contact with that person and coordinated further search and rescue efforts as one unit.

Lt. Darius Adams – Public Relations Officer, RBDF
“The same vessel that recovered, we also spoke to that vessel face-to-face last night and actually boarded that vessel last night. Right, so it wasn’t like a vessel randomly came there and randomly got that information or randomly recovered those bodies. So it’s a coordinated effort that we do.”

The family released this statement today saying all four bodies had been found, thanking family members and civilians who responded to their call for help.

But when we asked Adams to confirm whether all four people had been recovered:

Lt. Darius Adams – Public Relations Officer, RBDF
“As of right now, we are stating that there are some remains, and to confirm whether they are all the remains or not, we do not have that information at this time.”

Police say they are now in possession of the remains and will have them transported to New Providence.

A team of police officers has also been mobilised to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the crash.

Meanwhile, the Defence Force is coordinating continued search and recovery efforts to locate the aircraft, working alongside the Coast Guard.

Military divers, underwater drones, and the Defence Force’s interceptor have also been deployed as the search continues.

Now, more details are expected as the investigation moves forward.