A training flight ended in an emergency landing on Monday, March 3, when an aircraft crashed into the Hudson River, New York. The veteran pilot and a teenage flight student narrowly escaped, both swimming to shore despite the freezing temperatures.
Training Flight Ends in Icy Hudson River
The Cessna 172 aircraft departed from Stewart International Airport shortly before 8 p.m. and soon suffered engine trouble. Pilot Liam Darcy alerted the control tower when the aircraft started losing power. He said in the distress call:
“Yeah we’re going to go into the Hudson…I don’t think we’re going to make the airport.”
Onlookers observed the plane descending onto an icy section of the river, roughly 200 feet from the shore. State police Capt. Brad Natalizio thanked Darcy for selecting the Hudson River as the safest available emergency landing option.
After the aircraft struck the ice, it floated with its tail and one wing visible above the waterline. Darcy and the student exited the cockpit, swimming through subfreezing water. Upon reaching the shore, the pair were given dry clothing and rang for help. Emergency responders arrived at the scene within 15 minutes.
Medical personnel transported the pilots to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital as a precaution for possible hypothermia. The pair were later released unharmed.
What Led to the Engine Failure?
Instructors and students usually train loops around Stewart before returning to Long Island. In this instance, the teen completed standard manoeuvres, including a stop-and-go landing, before the malfunction. The Hudson River has seen similar aviation incidents before, including a helicopter crash in the area last year.
What caused the engine to fail remains unclear, though an investigation will follow. The aircraft stayed in the river until the following afternoon as crews prepared for recovery. Gov. Kathy Hochul titled the outcome:
“another miracle on the Hudson.”
Although these instances are rare, this situation undeniably underscores the importance of thorough aviation training.
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