Coast Guard joins search for missing plane off Bahamas

The U.S. Coast Guard joined the search for a missing plane carrying four family members that vanished near the Bahamas on their way back to Florida. A spokesperson for the Coast Guard told The Hill, 'The Royal Bahamian Defense Force requested Coast Guard assistance following a report of a downed airplane with 4 people aboard approximately 15 miles off Andros Island, Bahamas.' The passengers have been identified as pilot Mario Lamar, 80, his wife Lili Lamar, 79, and two of their grandchildren, 28-year-old Sofia Sosa and 22-year-old Christian Sosa. An NBC affiliate station reported that all four family members were found deceased. 'The search and recovery mission was conducted alongside family members and civilians who answered our call for help,' a statement from the family read. The investigation is still ongoing, according to the Coast Guard. Bahamian and U.S. forces had to temporarily pause rescue efforts in the morning amid bad weather. Bahamian authorities believe the plane initially crash-landed off the coast of Red Bays, North Andros – approximately 160 miles from Miami, Florida. 'Police on the island of Andros are coordinating efforts to locate an aircraft,' the agency said, according to the Associated Press.