Pilot and passenger swam ashore after crashing into an icy lake and were found in a warehouse 15 minutes later — his first remark stunned rescuers
It’s natural for people to feel shaken or panicked after going through a dangerous ordeal, as the body and mind process the shock of what just happened. However, this pilot appeared to remain remarkably calm. A pilot and a passenger were traveling in a Cessna 172 when their plane crashed into the icy Hudson River near New York Stewart International Airport. When rescuers reached the icy river, they noticed that the passenger and the pilot had already made their way to the shore by swimming after their plane crashed into the water. Upon meeting them at the warehouse, they were stunned by the remark made by the pilot. Reported by the New York Post on March 2, 2026, the survivors were said to be in "good spirits."
Another miracle on the Hudson.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) March 3, 2026
Thank God both the pilot and passenger of a single engine plane that performed an ice landing near Newburgh have been located with only minor injuries.
Grateful to our first responders for their quick actions.
In the video obtained by reporters, the plane was completely submerged in the river with only its tail visible above the water. However, even before the first responders arrived at the location, the pilot and the passenger had already swum ashore and made their way to a warehouse within 10–15 minutes following the crash. But what surprised them the most was when the pilot made an unexpected comment that left them in stitches. As they located the duo, the pilot joked about changing into dry clothes available in the warehouse.
Carrie Massari-Carey, who works as the Assistant Chief at the Town of Newburgh Emergency Medical Services, said, "The pilot was making jokes to us about the clothes he was wearing because they had taken clothes from the warehouse that weren't theirs, obviously, to get out of the wet clothes." When the first responders used flashlights to guide themselves to find the duo, they found them in good condition inside the warehouse, where they did not appear to have any major injuries.
However, they were soon taken to St. Luke's Hospital to check for any possible hypothermia, ensuring their safety. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul shared the update and wrote, "Another miracle on the Hudson. Thank God, both the pilot and passenger of a single-engine plane that performed an ice landing near Newburgh have been located with only minor injuries. Grateful to our first responders for their quick actions."
The 1978 Cessna 172, believed to be owned by the flying school Long Island Flying in Suffolk County, based on its tail number, crashed after departing MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma around 6:55 p.m. According to Flightradar24 data, the aircraft went down in the Hudson River roughly an hour later. The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed it is investigating the incident but has not shared further details.