Highway shut down after small plane crash in Westchester County; 1 dead: State Police
HARRISON, Westchester County (WABC) -- One person has died after a small plane crashed on a highway in Westchester County on Thursday night, according to New York State Police.
I-684 is shut down in both directions after a small, single-engine plane crashed on the highway near Exit 2 in Harrison, New York, according to State Police.
According to live air traffic controller audio and Flightradar24, the plane allegedly took off from Linden, New Jersey at 6:09 p.m., and was heading north along the Hudson River when it suddenly dropped at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute and made a hard right turn toward White Plains Airport and then declared an emergency.
The NTSB said a single-engine Tecnam P-2008 crashed near the airport around 7:15 p.m. after the pilot reported engine issues.
Another pilot, waiting to take off, saw the small plane go down.
"I don't know if it'll help much but Execjet 818 we saw him looked like he went down there to the right past the netjets building behind it," the pilot was heard saying over Air Traffic Control audio.
The initial investigation determined there were two individuals on the plane and one is confirmed dead, according to police.
Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement regarding Thursday night's plane crash.
"I have been briefed on a small aircraft crash near Exit 2 on I-684 in the City of Harrison in Westchester County. State Police immediately responded with local emergency responders and determined there were two people on board, and one person has been confirmed deceased and the other is in serious condition. The highway has been closed in both directions as the investigation continues. The crash also caused an aviation gas spill, which DEC is working rapidly to contain and clean up. My heart goes out to the loved ones of those on board during this tragic incident, and I am praying for a safe recovery for the injured individual."
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate.
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