Small Plane Down in Hudson River; 2 Saved
By JIM FITZGERALD
Associated Press Writer
YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) -- A single-engine plane crashed into the Hudson River on Monday, and two people were rescued by divers and helicopter crews, authorities said.
It appeared that the two people were the only ones aboard when the plane went down shortly before noon near the Yonkers city pier, Police Lt. Maureen Zadorozny said.
The two were pulled from the water by New York City police and Coast Guard divers who jumped into the river from hovering rescue helicopters. The copters then lifted the victims by basket and flew them to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, where their condition was not immediately known.
According to Max Coyle, a Yonkers battalion fire chief, the two were conscious but suffering from hypothermia, or lowered body temperature.
When rescuers arrived, he said, one was clinging to the wreckage and the other swimming with the aid of a seat cushion.
Jim Peters, spokesman for the FAA, said "the pilot radioed `mayday,' which was picked up by controllers in Westbury, Long Island. The pilot said he was going to go into the water, but he didn't give a location," Peters said.
The flight's place of origin and destination were not immediately known, he said.
Yonkers is north of New York City's Bronx borough.
