VERY SAD NEWS | Search Called Off for American Cellist Following Plane Crash in Bahamas

The Royal Bahamas Police Force has suspended the search for American cellist, Mark Tanner - whose Cessna plane crashed into the ocean last Thursday

The Royal Bahamas Police Force has indicated they have suspended the search for 57 year old American cellist, Mark Tanner - who has not been located since the Cessna plane he was flying was forced to make an emergency landing into the water, 18 miles northwest of Freeport, Bahamas, on Thursday December 14th.

A graduate of Yale University where he studied with Aldo Parisot, Mark had previously served as Principal Cellist with the San Diego Symphony, Nashville Symphony, New Haven Symphony and the New West Symphony.

“Suspending a case is never an easy decision nor is it a decision that is hastily made …” a spokesperson for the rescue effort coordination has said.

“We remain ready to reinstitute a search if new information becomes available.”

Local coast guards have indicated they covered more than 308 square miles in their 3 day ocean rescue effort.

Neither the cellist nor the wreckage of the plane have been located.

Mark's wife, Janna Lower, who serves on the violin teaching faculty at the University of Florida School of Music, was also in the plane at the time of the incident but was rescued by a good Samaritan seaplane. 

In addition to his musical activities, he served as an executive of a medical device company, as chairman of an angel investment fund and as an active entrepreneur.