NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A small aircraft plunged into the Long Island Sound off the Connecticut coast Sunday morning, prompting a rapid emergency response that led to the rescue of both occupants, authorities said.
The Piper PA-32 took off from Bridgeport-Sikorsky Airport around 10:30 a.m. and went down roughly ten minutes later, according to officials. The pilot had reported an emergency shortly after departure and was directed to divert to Tweed New Haven Airport, where the aircraft was expected to attempt an emergency landing.
Instead, the plane crashed approximately six miles off the coast of New Haven, submerging into the water shortly after the distress call.
Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney said the pilot was able to transmit his coordinates moments before the plane sank. “The Coast Guard, along with Branford Fire Department Marine 5, arrived on location and successfully recovered both individuals from the water,” Mahoney said.
According to Tweed Regional Airport, the aircraft was roughly eight miles away when the pilot declared an emergency. In a statement posted to Facebook, the airport said its control tower and ground crews immediately initiated emergency protocols and alerted federal and local responders.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that both individuals aboard the aircraft were rescued and suffered only minor injuries, including cuts to their hands and faces. They were transported to a local hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
“They were wet, cold, and had minor lacerations,” said a Coast Guard spokesperson. The New Haven Fire Department also assisted in the recovery, with crews reaching the victims approximately six miles offshore.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a preliminary investigation into the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it is still gathering information and waiting for recovery efforts to be completed before determining the scope of its investigation.
“The NTSB is aware and collecting details, but we are currently awaiting the full recovery to decide on next steps,” an NTSB spokesperson told the Hartford Courant.
Tweed New Haven Airport expressed relief in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “We are deeply relieved that both individuals were safely recovered and extend our sincere gratitude to all federal, state, and local responders for their swift and coordinated response.”
