Additional Coverage:
- David Muir delivers news of ‘grim discovery’ after tragic accident kills four people (themirror.com)
David Muir resumed his role as anchor of World News Tonight on Tuesday, September 8, providing updates on several major stories, including a tragic plane crash in Florida.
On Monday, September 7, an 80-year-old pilot, Mario Lumar, his wife Lili Lamar, 79, and two of their grandchildren, 28-year-old Sofia Sosa and 22-year-old Christian Sosa, were aboard a small plane that vanished near North Andros Island in the Bahamas. Midway through Tuesday’s broadcast, Muir shared the heartbreaking news of the family’s fate.
“Back here now to a grim discovery off the Bahamas – four family members killed in a small plane crash. Their own relatives say they had to recover the bodies of their loved ones on their own,” Muir reported before passing the story to ABC correspondent Gio Benitez for further details.
Benitez confirmed that the Florida family had to rely on themselves to recover the bodies after the plane went down at sea. Silvia Larrieu, niece of Mario and Lili, described the ordeal in a statement to the Miami Herald, explaining that the search and recovery mission was conducted alongside family members and civilians who responded to their call for help.
“Our relatives ultimately located our loved ones and had to bring them aboard their own vessels,” Larrieu said. She expressed deep gratitude to those who supported the family during this tragic time and respectfully requested privacy as they mourn the loss.
Following the crash, relatives including Sofia and Christian’s father, his two brothers, and an uncle, traveled to the Bahamas and spent hours searching the waters by boat. The bodies of all four were recovered by Tuesday, September 9.
The family is now working closely with the Coast Guard to ensure their loved ones are brought home safely and with dignity.
According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the family’s five-seater PA-34 Piper aircraft, destined for Opa-Locka, Florida, went down roughly 13 miles west of Andros Island at 2:20 p.m. Monday. The plane had departed from Great Harbor Cay after the family enjoyed Labor Day weekend at their home on the island.
“They’ve spent their whole life going there. That’s like their second home,” Silvia Larrieu shared. “They were coming home.”
Flight data showed the plane’s speed fluctuated rapidly, and its altitude dropped sharply from 10,000 feet to 3,700 feet in just three minutes before disappearing from radar. The family noted that Mario Lumar was a highly experienced pilot with over 40 years of flying under his belt.