Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing In Frigid Hudson River; 2 Aboard Swim To Safety

NEWBURGH, N.Y. — A mini level attempting an emergency landing collapsed into nan frigid Hudson River, but nan aviator and a rider escaped nan wreckage and safely swam to shore, authorities said.

The clang occurred Monday night, soon aft nan single-engine Cessna 172 took disconnected from Long Island MacArthur Airport successful Ronkonkoma, according to nan Federal Aviation Administration.

Emergency responders were dispatched to nan reported clang tract but initially could not find nan aircraft, the Middle Hope Fire Department reported. However, nan level was spotted a fewer minutes later successful waters disconnected Newburgh, astir 62 miles northbound of Manhattan.

The aviator and a rider were being treated astatine a infirmary for undisclosed insignificant injuries. Their names were not released.

It’s not clear what caused nan crash, which is nether investigation by nan FAA.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul praised nan efforts of nan responders, calling nan rescue “another occurrence connected nan Hudson,” a reference to nan January 2009 clang successful which a U.S. Airways pitchy deed a flock of birds and mislaid powerfulness successful some engines soon aft takeoff. Pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger was hailed arsenic a leader aft he landed nan powerless level successful nan Hudson River and each 155 group connected committee were rescued.