Coast Guard Suspends Search For 2 Missing After Plane Crash: Cops

AMAGANSETT, NY — The Coast Guard has suspended its sea search for two still missing after a Saturday plane crash off Amagansett until conditions improve, police said.

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for the Piper Navajo and its two remaining occupants due to rapidly deteriorating sea conditions; land based searches by law enforcement will continue until sea conditions improve and the safe deployment of East Hampton Town marine patrol vessels is possible, police said.

Police have identified all four aboard a private plane that crashed off Amagansett in a thunderstorm Saturday afternoon.

Onboard were Bernard Krupinski, 70, and his wife Bonnie Krupinksi, 70, of East Hampton, the couple's grandson William Maerov, 22, of East Hampton, and pilot Jon Dollard, 47, of Hampton Bays, police said.

Two bodies have been recovered and two were still missing Saturday night, police said. The names of those found are being withheld until they are identified by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office.

The private plane failed to land as expected and the debris field was found a short time later, police said. The cause of the crash is being investigated with the assistance of the Federal Aviation Administration; severe weather including thunderstorms was reported at the time of the crash.

The search was suspended Saturday night until daybreak Sunday, when it resumed before being suspended again Sunday afternoon, police said.

Famed "builder to the stars" Ben Krupinski and his wife were mourned on the East End Saturday. Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman confirmed that Krupinski died in the tragic crash.

"I'm devastated," Schneiderman said. "This is a devastating loss for the East End." Schneiderman said he has been friends with the Krupinskis for more than 20 years. "I'm speechless," he said. "They were so incredibly generous."

East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc also expressed grief. "I am in shock and filled with great sadness at the loss of Ben and Bonnie Krupinski, their grandson William Maerov, and pilot Jon Dollard in yesterday’s tragic accident," he said. "Ben and Bonnie’s influence and generosity reached every corner of our community. They were fully committed to East Hampton and they will be sorely missed. Our thought and prayers are with them, their friends, and family."

Krupinski was well-known for his beautiful work as a builder for high-profile celebrities including Billy Joel and Jerry Della Femina.

The couple's legacy of philanthropy is deeply rooted on the East End: In May, 2017, Ben and Bonnie Krupinski were honored as East Hampton Lions Club Citizens of the Yearfor their generosity to the East End community.

As word spread of Krupinski's death, friends were rocked by the news. "I am devastated," said longtime friend and former East Hampton Town board member Diana Weir. "They are an integral part of the East Hampton community — one of the most distinguished local families. I am crushed. They were very good to me and all local charities."

The Krupinskis, she said, are an "amazing family. Generous benefactors to so many local charities in their hometown. An East Hampton local successful family whose heart and soul cared about their hometown."

Remembering Krupinski, she said his death is "a tremendous loss for East Hampton. They never wanted credit or publicity for their amazing generosity. When a local prom lost their venue, Ben picked up the tab and made that prom happen. There are too many stories about things he did like that, without any press."

His wife Bonnie has spent a lifetime dedicated to giving back to her town with her "tremendous business acumen serving on various boards. I am heartbroken," Weir said. "I loved them."

Weir said the couple and she have remained friends since she served on the town board. "They're a wonderful family."

Social media was filled with heartbroken posts from friends Saturday night, with some say the loss was "gutting."

Video by Fully Involved Media Group/Bryan Riley-Velez

According to Maerov's Facebook page, he had just started a new job in New York City with Chandelier Creative.

East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo said the two bodies were recovered from the water and brought to shore by East Hampton town lifeguard jet skis.

A crowd of concerned residents, reportedly including Alec Baldwin, watched the rescue efforts from the beach Saturday.

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office was on the scene Saturday as the active rescue and recovery effort continued.

Coast Guard Cutter Bonito, homeported in Montauk, recovered the second person from the water near the crash site off the shore of Indian Wells Beach, the United States Coast Guard said.

Earlier Saturday afternoon East Hampton lifeguards located and recovered the first person from the aircraft, and assets on scene searched for two more missing people, the USCG said.

"We are stricken by this loss," said Capt. Kevin B. Reed, commander Sector Long Island Sound. "Our deepest sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of the two recovered individuals."

According to Lt. Alaina Fagan, public affairs officer for Coast Guard sector Long Island Sound, there were "four souls onboard" the Piper PA 31 Navajo aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration lost contact with the aircraft at 2:33 p.m. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound received a call at approximately 2:50 p.m. reporting a small plane had crashed about a mile off of Indian Wells Beach. The USCG reported a debris field, one mile off the beach in Amagansett, she said.

Sector Long Island Sound issued an urgent marine information broadcast notice to mariners, requesting vessels in the area to keep a sharp lookout for the crashed plane and for any survivors, the USCG said.

Coast Guard rescue crews were on scene conducting searches for survivors along with local agencies, fishing vessels, and shore units.

"A small aircraft crashed approximately two miles off the shore of Long Island near Indian Wells Beach, Amagansett, NY today at 3:20 p.m.," the FAA said in a statement.

Sarlo confirmed a small plane lost contact with East Hampton Airport about one mile south of the airport.

Private boats located a debris field off Indian Wells Beach, he said.

Family and friends were to respond to East Hampton airport, police said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

Assets involved in the search include Air National Guard MH-60 aircrew, Coast Guard Cutter Bonito, Coast Guard Cutter Steelhead, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod, Coast Guard Station Montauk, Coast Guard Station Shinnecock, East Hampton Police, East Hampton lifeguards, Suffolk County Police and aviation and local commercial fishing vessels, the USCG said.

Residents in the area reported the sudden deluge of rain that fell in the area around the time of the crash.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound command center at 203-468-4401 or on the radio at VHF-FM marine radio channel-16.

The cause of the crash, which comes just three days after a pilot was killed when a stunt plane crashed on Long Island, is under investigation.

Krupinski was long known for his work ethic and philanthropic spirit. A 1992 article in the New York Times said Krupinski, an"ace East Hampton pilot and contractor to the stars" was "modest and caring in the manner of a doctor making house calls."

Krupinski, the NYT article said, was "known as an industrious young man who has sweated for his airplane, his house in Palm Beach and his 42-foot fishing boat, the Bonnie K, named for his wife Bonnie Bistrian Krupinski."

The East Hampton Ladies Village Improvement Society told the NYT that he was always giving back and always a hard worker. Even as a child, the NYT article said, "He typically worked until 11 at night at his father's grocery store, 'because that's when we closed.'" The article also said that even as a child, "Benny built model airplanes, not the fancy kinds but the ones with 'the Queen Bee motors flown on a piece of string.'"

The couple's legacy of kindness echoed in the heartbroken words of all who remembered them Saturday.

The 1770 House Restaurant and Inn, one of the couple's East End businesses, posted on Facebook about the overwhelmingly tragic loss: "We are heartbroken to announce the tragic loss of Ben and Bonnie, their grandson Will, and our colleague Jon, on June 2, 2018. The Krupinski, Bistrian, Maerov and Dollard families are grateful for the sincere outpouring of support from so many who knew and loved them. We extend our deep appreciation to the U.S. Coast Guard and other emergency responders on land, sea and air including the East Hampton Town Police Department and scores of others."

A memorial service will be announced in coming weeks, the post said.

"In honor of Ben and Bonnie, with whom we have been fortunate to work as members of their extended family, we continue their commitment to delivering excellence in service to all of you in the community," the post said.

The beloved couple's endeavors also included Cittanuova, East Hampton Point and East Hampton Golf Club, as well as Ben Krupinski Builders, the post said

"This loss is significant for the community at large, and most devastating for the family. It's inconceivable, and hit me between the eyes. My deepest sympathies for the family, as we will all are mindful of their dynamic energy harnessed and shared with their beloved East End," one friend wrote on social media.

Rep. Lee Zeldin also expressed his sorrow. "They were a larger than life couple everyone knew, loved and respected," he said. "They will be dearly missed by their family, friends, employees and neighbor who adored them, their vision, love of flying, entrepreneurship, and devotion to the East End of Long Island."

Patch photos of Ben and Bonnie Krupinksi by Richard Lewin Professional Photography, soniboy@aol.com.

Patch courtesy photos of rescue scene by Donna Liebowitz.