A Cessna from Long Island crashed into the Hudson River during an emergency landing

A small plane from Long Island plunged into the icy Hudson River Monday night while trying to make an emergency landing, and the pilot and passenger narrowly escaped by swimming through the icy waters to safety, according to authorities.

The Federal Aviation Administration told the newspaper that the Cessna 172 plane, with two people on board, crashed into the Hudson River east of Stewart International Airport in New York at around 8 p.m.

The small, single-engine plane, flying from Long Island Airport, was near the south side of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge when it lost power and fell into the river, Orange County Executive Steve Newhouse said. He told News 12.

Emergency responders who arrived were initially unable to locate the plane, but eventually found it in Newburgh, where photos showed the plane submerged among blocks of floating ice in the Hudson River. According to the Middle Hope Fire Department.

The pilot and passenger survived the initial impact, then evacuated the plane and swam to shore in the icy waters, fire officials said.

They were transported to local hospitals and are expected to make a full recovery. Newhouse said on Facebook.

Data from Aviation Radar24 It showed that the privately owned plane departed Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma at about 6:55 p.m. and crashed into the main waterway about an hour later.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul described the safe rescue of the two people as “another miracle on the Hudson River.” In a post on X late Monday.

She wrote: “Thank God, the pilot and passenger in the single-engine plane that landed on the ice near Newburgh were found and suffered only minor injuries.”

New York Rep. Pat Ryan Also published on X That his office was closely monitoring reports of the incident.

He said: “I am in contact with officials on the ground, who informed me that both passengers came out of the water safely and were evacuated by emergency services.”

“I am so grateful to the first responders in the Hudson Valley who are responding so quickly and putting their lives on the line to keep others safe.”

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the accident, including its cause.