A small Cessna 172 made an emergency landing in the frigid waters of the Hudson River near Newburgh, New York, on Monday night. The pilot, Liam Darcy, and his 17-year-old student passenger escaped the wreckage and swam safely to shore despite sub-30-degree temperatures.
Key Takeaways
A small plane made an emergency landing in the frigid Hudson River near Newburgh, New York, with both occupants swimming safely to shore. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff from Long Island MacArthur Airport and is under investigation by the FAA.
- Small Cessna 172 crashed into the Hudson River during an attempted emergency landing
- Pilot Liam Darcy, 31, and a 17-year-old student swam to shore with minor injuries
- The plane was spotted in waters off Newburgh, about 62 miles north of Manhattan
- Governor Kathy Hochul called the rescue 'another miracle on the Hudson'
- FAA is investigating the cause of the crash
The plane took off from Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma shortly before the incident occurred around 8 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Emergency responders initially struggled to locate the aircraft but found it a few minutes later floating among chunks of ice near the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.
Darcy and his student were treated at St. Luke's Hospital for minor injuries and released after being medically cleared. The pilot reported engine trouble shortly before the crash, which is currently under investigation by the FAA.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul praised the rescue efforts, calling it 'another miracle on the Hudson,' referencing the 2009 emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549. The plane remains submerged in the river, with its tail and right wing visible above the waterline.
According to an insider at Stewart Airport, training pilots often loop their planes around the airport before returning to Long Island. The student had piloted the plane safely through routine maneuvers before taking off for Long Island when the engine malfunctioned. The lack of wind could have made it more difficult to keep the nose of the plane up on approach due to the loss of power.
The pilot and passenger were found in a nearby warehouse, where they had changed into dry clothes they found. They were in good spirits and cracking jokes after their ordeal. The incident has been hailed as a remarkable feat of skill and luck by first responders and officials alike.
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