Two survivors were rescued from a crashed plane last night, in an event that has been dubbed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul as “another miracle on the Hudson.”
The small aircraft, which was carrying a single pilot and a passenger, crashed into the Hudson River around 60 miles north of New York City.
The Cessna 172 had been bound for New York Stewart International Airport in Orange County before it plunged into the icy waters, less than 20 miles from its destination.
The Middle Hope Fire Department said in a statement that firefighters and paramedics raced to the scene at 8.04 pm, but were initially unable to find the aircraft in the river.
The air temperature had plummeted below freezing at the time of the crash, hovering at around 24 F.
After several minutes of searching, rescue crews located the airplane near Newburgh.
Both the pilot and their passenger were able to free themselves from the wreckage before swimming to the shore. Once there, the pair were treated by medics and later raced to the hospital.
Steve Neuhaus, the County Executive of Orange County, said that both of the plane’s occupants are expected to make a full recovery.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident, according to News12 Westchester.
The broadcaster also said that the plane had taken off from Long Island MacArthur Airport, 107 miles from Newburgh.
Governor Hochul weighed in on the news, writing on X that she was “grateful” to the first responders who carried out the rescue mission.
“Another miracle on the Hudson,” Hochul said. “Thank God both the pilot and passenger of a single-engine plane that performed an ice landing near Newburgh have been located with only minor injuries.”
The original “Miracle on the Hudson” unfolded on January 15, 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 was forced to ditch into the Hudson River after suffering a double-engine failure. Ditching is a rare manoeuvre used by pilots when reaching land has become impossible.
The airplane had been struck by a flock of Canada geese shortly after taking off from New York City’s LaGuardia Airport, crippling its engines.
The Airbus A320 was bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, and Seattle, Washington, but landed in the Hudson River less than four minutes after the bird strike.
As the plane approached the water, it passed less than 270 meters above the George Washington Bridge. According to data from the NTSB, the aircraft hit the river at a calibrated airspeed of around 140 mph.
All 155 of the plane’s passengers survived, although 100 people on board were injured.
Two New York Waterway ferries, along with several other vessels, were sent to rescue the passengers.
The landing inspired the 2016 box office hit Sully.
Tom Hanks played the plane’s famed captain, Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, in the movie. The other pilot, Jeffrey Skiles, was played by Aaron Eckhart.
The Independent has contacted the FAA for comment.
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