Andros

I'm Jamila The Royal Bahamas Defense Force Commodore is hitting back at criticism that the RBDF didn't respond in time to Monday's deadly plane crash that claimed the lives of four Americans.

The plane carrying the family went down in waters of Andros, killing two grandparents and their grandchildren.

The incident sent shockwaves throughout the community.

And while the family claims there wasn't sufficient help from Bahamian authorities, the Commodore tells our Joshua Williams they were in it from the moment they were called.

Pick up a string of 85s.

Alastair Bimini.

Great Harbour Quay, the Berry Islands, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, over in Governess Harbour, Eleuthera, Nicholstown, North Andros, 86 there, 86 also in Kemp Space, South Andros, Arthurstown, Cat Island, Coburn Townsend, Salvador, also in Port Nelson, Rum Quay, Black Point, Exuma Quays, 85, Georgetown, Great Exuma, 84 there, 87 in Deadmans Quay actually, and then into the South East, 86 is once again in Dunkin Town, Ragged Island, Colonel Hill, Cricket Island, Abraham's Bay, Maguana, Delectable Bay, Acklands 87 there, and a pair of 86s, Matthew Town in Nago, and at good neighbors to the southeast, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Satellite and radar composite, we are quiet across most of the chain of islands.

Now for regional news.

[upbeat news music] Four members of a Miami family have been found dead after the small aircraft they were traveling in crashed off the coast of North Andros.

Bahamian authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

The victims were identified as 80-year-old pilot Mario Lamar, his 79-year-old wife, Lily Lamar, and their grandchildren, 28-year-old Sophia Sosa and 22-year-old Christian Sosa.

Bahamian police said the aircraft departed Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands at approximately 10:12 AM Monday, bound for Miami Executive Airport in Miami-Dade County.

Air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft at about 11:04 AM, approximately 13 miles west of Andros Island.

Authorities later received reports that the aircraft may have crash landed off Red Bays in North Andros.

The Royal Bahamas Defense Force confirmed Tuesday that the four bodies had been recovered.

Meanwhile, the bodies of an American family of four who tragically died in that plane crash on Monday are now back in the capital, according to police.

The plane carrying the family went down in words of Andros.

It sent shockwaves across South Florida.

And while the victims have been identified tonight, we take a look at who they were and the impact they had on their communities.

Also in Governor's Abbey, Lutheran and Allistown, Bimini.

Great Harbour, Keithberry Islands, 83 there.

84, Nicholstown, North Andros, into the Central Bahamas.

85 in Kemp's Bay, South Andros, 86.

The plane took off from Great Harbour Cay at about 10:12 a.m. Monday and was heading to Miami Executive Airport in Miami-Dade County, uh, Bahamas, Bahamas police said in a statement.

The plane's last known contact was at 11:04 a.m. near the western side of Andros Island, according to a statement from the family.

Police on the island of Andros are coordinating efforts to locate an aircraft believed to have, uh, crash landed off the coast of Red Bays, North Andros." Um, shifting between Andros and Andros, sorry.

Uh, "Bahamas police said.

The bodies were found on Tuesday, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force said.

Uh, "Bahamas police identified the plane as PA-34 Piper five-seater aircraft with tail number N212ML.

It said it departed Great Harbour Cay, a city in the Berry Islands of the Bahamas.

Um, the air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft when it was about 13 miles west of Andros Island, Bahamas police said." Um, but yeah, there's no, um, you know, in terms of a cause, uh, uh, potential what happened, uh, you know, hopefully I can come back to this story and, um, you know, have a, have a solid update on maybe what caused this, uh, potential, uh, crash landing situation.

On board were 80-year-old Mario Lamar, who was the pilot, his 79-year-old wife, Lily, and two grandchildren, 22-year-old Christian Sosa and 28-year-old Sophie Sosa.

Flight data shows the plane circling the Bahamian coast before vanishing about 13 miles west of Andros Island.

There were thunderstorms in the area at the time.

The US Coast Guard joining the search.

Yeah

...to 3,700 feet in less than three minutes, and then the plane vanished about 13 miles west of Andros Island.

Uh, the Coast Guard and Bahamian authorities, they were searching and searching.

Since Monday, they couldn't find anything.

Hi, thanks Shanasa.

And as the nation continues to grapple with yesterday's tragedy at Arm Bailey, there's also an update today on the small aircraft that went down off North Andros.

Four bodies have now been recovered from the crash site, with authorities continuing their investigation into what happened.

We'll have more on that developing story later.

Temperatures right now around the chain of islands.

It's 87 in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

We picked that up in Nicholstown, North Andros, and over in Governor's Abbey, Lucera.

86, Allistown, Bimini, and Great Harbour Key, the Berry Islands.