Miracle on the Hudson: Pilot and Passenger Rescued After Emergency Landing
NEWBURGH, New York (AP) – A pilot and passenger are safe after a small plane made an emergency landing in the Hudson River near Newburgh, New York, on Monday evening. New York Governor Kathy Hochul hailed the rescue as “another miracle on the Hudson.”
The Cessna 172, registered to American Airman Inc., a Long Island-based flight school, went down near the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge around 8:08 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft had departed from Long Island MacArthur Airport.
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus confirmed that both occupants were rescued from the icy waters and are expected to survive. The pilot declined medical treatment at the scene.
“The small plane lost power,” Neuhaus told News 12. “Emergency services were alerted, and thankfully, a swift response led to a successful rescue.”
Authorities are currently working to recover the single-engine plane, which is slowly sinking into the river.
Governor Hochul shared the news on X, stating, “Grateful to our first responders for their quick actions.”
This incident evokes memories of the widely celebrated “Miracle on the Hudson” in 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 was safely ditched in the Hudson River after losing engine power shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport. All 155 people on board survived.
The FAA is investigating the cause of the power loss and the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing. Further details will be released as the investigation progresses.