CT Man Killed in Plane Crash Near Hamptons: UPDATE

QUOGUE, NY — The missing bodies of two individuals who were in a plane that plunged into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Quogue Saturday have been found, according to the United States Coast Guard.

USCG Lt. Jr. Grade Rodion Mazin confirmed the news Sunday evening: "Divers located and recovered two additional bodies," he said, adding that recovery of the fuselage, which may take some time, will be completed by the commercial salvage provider. The National Transportation Safety Board will not take the lead in the investigation of the case, he said.

USCG Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier of USCG Station Shinnecock said the divers had found the two bodies and the USCG would be closing its part of the case and returning to base. Commercial salvage would still attempt to recover the aircraft before sundown, but he was not sure if it would be possible; the weather Monday also did not appear to be favorable, he said. Officials were working with local authorities to try and positively identify the bodies, he added.

According to New York State Police, the first man located Saturday was identified as Munidat "Raj" Persaud, 41, of Waterbury, CT.

In addition, the United States Coast Guard confirmed Sunday that the fuselage has been located.

According to Mazin, earlier on Sunday: "They did find fuselage," but it hadn't yet been brought to the surface. "They are still diving. The visibility there is pretty bad, only about 2' — it takes a while, for safety reasons. Hopefully, they will be able to finish by sunset."

Strohmaier said with the fuselage found, divers will either try to go through the wreckage or lift it to the surface, something that remains an option. "There's still enough daylight left," he said.

In an update at noon Sunday, the USCG said it was a surfer who called Southampton Police at 11:10 a.m. Saturday to say they'd seen a plane crash into the water about one mile south of Quogue; police notified watchstanders at Sector Long Island Sound.

Prior to the crash, three people boarded the twin-engine Piper PA-34 at the Danbury Municipal Airport in Connecticut; it is unknown where their intended destination was, the USCG said.

Several pieces of debris have been located; however, the fuselage has not been found. Two boats continued to use sonar to map the sea floor in attempts to locate the aircraft, the USCG said.

Coast Guard Cutter Bonito searched through the night and into the morning for the two missing people. Currently assisting with the search are a Coast Guard Station Shinnecock boatcrew aboard a 47' motor life boat; Coast Guard Cutter Bonito, an 87-' patrol boat; a Coast Guard Auxiliary boatcrew; a Suffolk County marine unit and divers; the Suffolk County Sheriff's department; a Suffolk County Police Aviation Unit; Southampton bay constables; Quogue Village Police; and commercial salvage.

The commercial salvage is actually being performed by Sea Tow Shinnecock, or Lester Trafford, partnered with East End Dive Services and Walter Britton; their team was also instrumental in recovering the wreckage from the Amagansett crash in June.

During that operation, the team acquired a new ultra-high frequency side scan sonar that lets them see very detailed images of a wide search area under their vessel; their team were located the fuselage Sunday using that sonar equipment.

The latest developments came after a night with little word.

"There was no news overnight," said Strohmaier Sunday morning. "They're regrouping right now and assessing the situation."

A conference call was held Sunday morning with the partner agencies to "reassess what kind of mode they may or may not transition to," he said.

Mazin said the search continued, with the 87' USCG Cutter Bonito on the scene all night, and local police scouring the beach. "They didn't see anything," Mazin said. "No bodies or parts of the airplane. Our plan is to continue searching with two site scan sonars." Suffolk County officials were also on the scene Sunday to do a visual search, he said.

"At this point, it's more us assisting local agencies, locating the wreck and helping the Federal Aviation Administration to identify the causes of the crash — and, of course, to recover the bodies." When asked if the hope was still to find the rescue any survivors, he said, "At this point, the chances are very slim."

One body was recovered and is now at the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office, the United States Coast Guard said; no information has been released yet on the person's identity. Two others were onboard the plane, the USCG said.

According to Strohmaier of USCG Station Shinnecock on Saturday night, the search continued "for two other individuals," with divers in the water using sonar to try and find the fuselage of the aircraft, which has not yet been found.

While search efforts ceased for the night, dive operation recommenced in the morning, he said. "This remains an active case and we will reassess in the morning hours."

The flight originated from Danbury, CT, the Coast Guard confirmed.

Mazin confirmed Saturday that one body was found and the search continued for two others. "They're still searching," he said.

Mazin said so far, just debris had been found; locals and divers were at the scene, on the beach in Westhampton Saturday, trying to locate the fuselage.

While the FAA has been told by witnesses at the scene that the aircraft broke apart in the air, it is just speculation at this point, he said, because "we did not see it ourselves."

According to the USCG, at 11:10 a.m., watchstanders at Sector Long Island Sound were notified by Southampton Police that a twin-engine Piper PA-34 had crashed into the water about one mile south of Quogue.

The watchstanders then dispatched a boat crew from Station Shinnecock aboard a 47-' motor lifeboat, the USCG said.

Assisting in the search are Suffolk County marine, bay constables, a commercial salvage crew — which has sent down divers— as well as a multiple aircrews from the New York Air National Guard.

An aircrew from Air Station Cape Cod was scheduled be dispatched to relieve the Air National Guard, the USCG said.

It's the second time in recent months that a small plane crash has led to loss of life in the Hamptons: In June, a crash off Amagansett took the lives of Ben and Bonnie Krupinski, their grandson William Maerov, and pilot Jon Dollard, leaving hearts broken.

Patch photo by LTJG Rodion Mazin.

Written and reported by Patch Editor Lisa Finn