The occupants were identified as 31-year-old Liam D'Arcy, a certified flight instructor, and a 17-year-old male student, officials said. D'Arcy is a flight instructor with Long Island Flying, who has been instructing the student for approximately a year and a half.
The Cessna 172 originated from Long Island MacArthur Airport around 6:30 p.m. during a scheduled night training session. According to investigators, the student pilot was at the controls for most of the trip as they headed north toward the Tappan Zee Bridge before touching down at Stewart International Airport around 7:30 p.m. for a stop-and-go maneuver, a routine training exercise in which an aircraft lands, comes to a full stop on the runway, then immediately departs without taxiing or refueling.
After taking off from Stewart and beginning the return leg to Long Island, the aircraft began experiencing mechanical problems near the U.S. Military Academy, officials said. Instructor D'Arcy took control and issued a mayday call, turning the plane back toward Stewart. Moments later, the engine failed for reasons still under investigation, forcing the aircraft into a glide.
With the runway no longer reachable, D'Arcy chose the Hudson River as the safest emergency landing option.
"We're going into the Hudson River, I don't think we are gonna make the airport," they were heard saying on airport tower audio.
The plane headed north toward the Newburgh Beacon Bridge, made a 180-degree turn, and touched down on an ice-covered stretch of the river roughly 200 feet from the western shoreline.
Officials said Stewart air traffic controllers played a critical role, helping guide the aircraft closer to the riverbank.
Both individuals were able to self-extricate from the aircraft. They swam about 50 feet through frigid water to reach the shoreline, then sought temporary shelter inside a nearby building while awaiting emergency responders.
Gov. Kathy Hochul referred to the incident as "another Miracle on the Hudson."
The preliminary investigation indicates no signs of intoxication or impairment, and nothing of a criminal nature. The incident appears accidental, officials said.
The investigation remains ongoing in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, which is responsible for the case. FAA Teterboro is gathering information, and authorities are also working with the National Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
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