LI Flight Instructor Landed Plane Safely In Icy Hudson River, Then He And Student, 17, Swam To Shore: Police

LONG ISLAND, NY — Some are saying that the Hudson River has produced its second miracle.

The two people, who were aboard a Cessna 172 that crashed into the icy Hudson River on Monday night, about an hour after taking off from Long Island MacArthur Airport, are in stable condition, the Town of Newburgh Emergency Medical Services said in a Facebook post.

State police later identified the pair as a flight instructor, Liam Darcy, 31, of Southampton, and a 17-year-old student from Locust Valley.

Newburgh EMS said its personnel responded alongside Orange County EMS, and with the help of local police, its first responders were able to find "two patients out of the water who were later transported in stable condition."

Caroline Smith, a spokeswoman for the airport's operator, the Town of Islip, would only confirm the plane's description, base, and crash location.

The plane is owned by the flight school, American Airman Inc. based at the airport in Ronkonkoma, according to FlightAware.

A map on the website shows how the plane looped up and around Stewart International Airport and the Hudson before landing in the river.

The school could not be reached for comment.

Eight different agencies were involved in the rescue, including New Windsor Emergency Medical Services, Orange County 911, and police officers from Newburgh and state troopers, and the Middle Hope and Newburgh fire departments.

The plane crashed around 8 p.m. into the river, just east of the airport in New Windsor, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

It is under investigation, a spokeswoman said.

Darcy, an instructor with Long Island Flying who has been teaching the student for around a year-and-a-half, flew the Cessna out of MacArthur at around 6:30 p.m. during a scheduled night training session, Eyewitness News reported.

His student, who was flying most of the trip, touched the plane down at Stewart around 7:30 p.m. for a stop-and-go maneuver, and on the return to Long Island, the plane began experiencing mechanical problems near the U.S. Military Academy, officials told the outlet.

Darcy took control and issued a mayday call, then turned the plane back toward Stewart, and not long after, its engine failed, which forced it into a glide, and with the runway unreachable, Darcy chose the river as the safest emergency landing option, according to the outlet.

The Middle Hope Fire Department says its first responders were dispatched after a report of a plane crashing into the Hudson River, and once at the location, units were initially unable to locate the aircraft in the water.

But after a few minutes of searching the area by several first responders, the plane was located in Newburgh, according to officials.

Orange County Emergency Services Commissioner Peter Cirigliano said the response was timely considering all that was unfolding.

"Time was of the essence," he said. "And I think at the end of the day, credit really needs to go also to the air traffic control for keeping the pilot calm, cool, and collected. He just did an outstanding job. So I want to commend the air traffic control at Stewart Airport for a job well done."

SEE ALSO:

• Plane From Long Island Crashes Into Hudson River In Orange County: Authorities
• 'I Think I Might Have To Put It In The Water' Radio Transmissions Reveal Moments Before Plane Crash
• 'Air Traffic Controllers Were Unbelievable' In 2nd 'Miracle' Hudson River Crash: Commissioner

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

“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," he added.

In another post, 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. "Grateful to our first responders for their quick actions."

Last year, the 'Miracle on the Hudson' rescue saw its 16th anniversary.

On Jan. 15, 2009, U.S. Airways Flight 1549 — piloted by Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger — made an emergency crash landing into the Hudson River, after it hit a flock of geese shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia airport, and the plane lost power in both engines.

All 143 passengers and crew on board the plane were pulled from the water, in large part due to the immediate response and rescue from NY Waterway ferry boats.

The U.S. Coast Guard and the New York City Fire Department rescued an additional 12 people.

Experts have said that if these ferry crews had not responded as quickly as they did, many people would have died or suffered severe effects of hypothermia.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

With reporting from Anna Schier and Jeff Edwards.