On Monday night, a single-engine small plane made an emergency landing on the cold Hudson River, with two occupants on board escaping with only minor injuries. New York Governor Hochu described the incident as “another Hudson miracle”.
The accident occurred around 8 p.m. near Newburgh, about 50 miles north of New York City. Local fire department officials said that rescue teams located the crashed plane on the river surface within minutes of receiving the alert. The dim light conditions combined with floating ice on the river surface briefly added to the search difficulty.
According to flight tracking data, the plane involved was a Cessna 172 single-engine aircraft that took off from MacArthur Airport on Long Island around 6:55 p.m. that day. It circled near Stewart International Airport in New York for about 20 minutes in the afternoon before making an emergency landing on the Hudson River between 7:55 and 8 p.m. in the evening.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that there were two people on board, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also involved in the investigation.
Fire officials stated that both occupants managed to escape the plane after the emergency landing and swam to the shore. Upon being found by rescue personnel on land, they were taken for medical examination by emergency responders in Newburgh. The two individuals mainly showed symptoms of possible hypothermia and did not sustain serious injuries.
Media reports quoted eyewitnesses as saying that both individuals stabilized their mental condition after changing into dry clothes and were even able to chat and laugh with the rescuers.
The U.S. Coast Guard stated that there have been no reports of major casualties so far, and apart from cooperating with the investigation, they are also monitoring for any potential fuel leaks or pollution issues.
Governor Hochu posted on social media, saying: “Thank God, the single-engine plane that made an emergency landing on the ice near Newburgh had only minor injuries to the pilot and passenger.” She referred to it as “another Hudson miracle”.
Hochu was referring to the 2009 incident where Captain Chesley Sullenberger successfully landed a US Airways flight on the Hudson River near Manhattan after striking a flock of birds, miraculously saving all 150-plus passengers and crew on board.
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus mentioned that both occupants are expected to make a full recovery.
The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, including whether it involved mechanical failures, fuel issues, or weather factors. A comprehensive report may take several weeks or even months to complete.