New Details Emerge In 'Another Miracle On The Hudson' Plane Crash

Updated 7:20 p.m.

NEWBURGH, NY — New details have emerged about the miraculous emergency landing of a single-engine aircraft on the Hudson River on Monday night.

More than a dozen agencies responded to the crash in the moments after the plane lost power en route to Stewart International Airport in Orange County.

Responding agencies included the City of Newburgh Police Department; the Town of Newburgh Police Department; the Town of New Windsor Police Department; the Orange County Sheriff's Office; the New York State Police Aviation Unit, Underwater Recovery Team, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit, and Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Montgomery; the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Orange County Department of Emergency Services, multiple EMS agencies, and area fire departments, including marine units.

The aircraft had departed Long Island MacArthur Airport on Long Island for a scheduled training flight. While returning from Stewart International Airport, the plane experienced engine failure.

The flight instructor, 31-year-old Liam D'arcy, of Southampton, declared a Mayday and, after determining the aircraft could not safely reach the runway, conducted the emergency landing on an ice-covered portion of the Hudson River, 200 feet from the city of Newburgh shoreline.

D'arcy and his 17-year-old student pilot, of Locust Valley, self-extricated from the aircraft, swam to shore, and were located by responding officers, near 401 Water Street. Both were taken to Saint Luke's Hospital, treated for hypothermia, and later released.

Radio communications between the pilot and the control tower at Stewart International Airport reveal the calm and collected response moments before the small aircraft plunged into the Hudson River.

"I think we are losing our engines," the pilot declares giving the first hint of trouble.

At this point, the controller advises the pilot to "maintain some altitude until you get in closer to the airport."

But, this would not be possible.

"I think I might have to put it in the water," the pilot responds. "Uh, we lost our engines. Yeah, we are going to go into the Hudson."

The controller interrupts briefly to tell the pilot that help is on the way.

"We're going into the Hudson River," the pilot repeats. "I don't think we're going to make the airport."

"We're going to send you some assistance in that direction," ATC reassures. "I've already rung the crash phone out."

Without missing a beat, the controller proceeds to give the pilot an update on windspeed as he prepares to crash-land in the frigid waters of the Hudson. "What side of the river are you going to go on?"

"The north side of the river," the pilot replies matter-of-factly.

"Are you going to go on the right bank to the east, or the left bank to the west?" the controller clarifies.

"The bank, I'm sorry, the bank to the west," the pilot responds.

"The bank to the west, okay, near Newburgh," the controller confirms. "Keep in mind that the bridge is over there — keep that in sight."

"Yeah, we've got the bridge in sight," the pilot says in a final transmission.

The FAA tells Patch that the crash of the single-engine aircraft into the Hudson River, east of New York Stewart International Airport, around 8 p.m. on Monday, remains under investigation.

See Also: 'Air Traffic Controllers Were Unbelievable' In 2nd 'Miracle' Hudson River Crash: Commissioner

The FAA has published an initial crash report on Monday night's crash-landing on the Hudson.

The FAA Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing report attributes the crash of the Cessna 172 to engine trouble prior to the emergency landing in the Hudson River in Orange County. The report describes the injuries as minor.

State police, in conjunction with the National Transportation Safety Board, are also investigating the incident.

SEE ALSO: Plane From Long Island Crashes Into Hudson River In Orange County: Authorities

The Middle Hope Fire Department says that at approximately 8:04 p.m., they also were dispatched on a report of a plane crashing into the Hudson River. Once at the reported location, units were initially unable to locate the aircraft in the water. After a few minutes of searching the area by several first responders, the plane was located in the City of Newburgh.

The passengers were evaluated by Town of Newburgh Emergency Medical Services before being taken to the hospital.

SEE ALSO: 2 In 'Stable Condition' After Plane Out Of MacArthur Crashes Into Hudson River: Officials

"Earlier this evening, we received a distress call regarding a small aircraft that had made an emergency landing in the Hudson River," Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said in a social media post Monday night.

SEE ALSO: 10 Years After Miracle on The Hudson, LI Survivor Thanks Sully

"At this time, we can report that all occupants have been recovered alive and are being treated at a local hospital and are expected to make a full recovery."

Gov. Kathy Hochul called the incident "another miracle on the Hudson."

"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," she wrote in a social media post. "Grateful to our first responders for their quick actions."