Another "Miracle on the Hudson"? New details revealed in small plane's emergency landing in the river
A conversation between air traffic control and the pilot of a small plane reveals the moments before the aircraft pulled off an emergency landing on the Hudson River in Orange County on Monday night.
The pilot and passenger took off in the Cessna 172 from Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma just before 7 p.m., according to FlightAware.
A little less than an hour into the flight, the pilot communicated with air traffic controllers from Stewart International Airport, according to audio from Broadcastify.com.
"I think we're losing our engine," the pilot said. "I think I might have to put it in the water."
"We're going into the Hudson River. I don't think we're gonna make the airport," he later added.
The pilot told officials they had a "little bit of power, but it's very rough."
Plane lands in icy waters
The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane landed at around 8 p.m. near the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge after experiencing engine issues.
The two people on board, identified as instructor Liam D'Arcy, 31, and a 17-year-old student, were able to get out and swim through the icy water to shore. They were transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, according to Middle Hope firefighters.
CBS News New York's Carolyn Gusoff spoke to D'Arcy on Tuesday at his home in Suffolk County. He told her he feels good and never doubted he and his student would survive. He said that when they reached shore, they found some overalls in a warehouse, changed into warm clothes and waited for help.
Pictures showed the plane floating among chunks of ice on Monday night.
"The plane is currently in the ice. It has not been tied up. We can't get to it at this time. And our boat can't be launched to get to it," responders said during an emergency call.
A crane pulled the Cessna 172 closer to shore Tuesday, but there's still no word yet on when it will be removed.
State police are coordinating the removal of the plane. The cause of the engine failure that preceded the crash is under investigation.
The student's identity has not been released, but CBS News New York learned he is a resident of Locust Valley on Long Island.
Mini miracle on the Hudson
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called the incident "another miracle on the Hudson," referencing the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on Jan. 15, 2009. All 155 people on board that flight survived after the aircraft landed on the Hudson River off Manhattan.
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said, "We are so proud of all the first responders that were part of this successful rescue."
Pilot Brandon Gallagher was with other pilots on a sightseeing flight on Monday night when they heard the mayday call. He said they flew over the scene and helped direct first responders to the Cessna's emergency landing site.
"As soon as we heard they were losing oil pressure, I immediately thought that's pretty bad," Gallagher said.
He said he agrees with the governor about Monday night's emergency landing being a miracle.
"Yeah, absolutely, it is a miracle and with great skill as well that they were able to not tip over the airplane, and that they were able to swim to shore, especially in the freezing, freezing cold, so they did an amazing job," Gallagher said.
