News: Extreme Landing for Long Island Plane
(Long Island, N.Y.) A small aircraft with possible engine problems landed on the shore of Rockaway Beach in Queens. The plane had taken off from Farmingdale’s Republic Airport and ended up in shallow waters three miles south of John F. Kennedy International Airport. The incident occurred after sundown, roughly five minutes past seven last night.
Authorities are still uncertain as to where the plane was headed and how long it had been traveling. Some reports stated that the aircraft was traveling westward and was scheduled for a roundtrip back to Farmingdale. Onboard the plane was a twenty-four-year-old pilot, and a twenty-two-year-old man and twenty-one-year-old woman who were dating.
Reports stated that all of the passengers were safe and refused medical attention when emergency responders arrived at the scene. The plane was a single-engine aircraft that landed on a beach adjacent to Beach 56th Street and Shorefront Parkway. New York Police Department Aviation and Harbor Units responded to the call, along with firefighters from neighboring areas.
The plane was not damaged, though it was stated to have experienced “rough engine” issues. The pilot had allegedly contacted air traffic controllers at JFK airport and asked for permission to land because one of the passengers was violently ill. When the controller denied permission for the Piper PA-28-161 to make a landing, the pilot revealed that he had been experiencing engine problems. The controller asked the pilot if he wished to declare an emergency, but the pilot refused and asked if there were any nearby private beaches. The controller responded by saying that he didn’t have permission to land.
Reports have stated that the pilot is a medical student at Georgetown University and was taken to the police station for possible charges. Some responders on the case have questioned why the pilot chose to land on a beach when he was in such close proximity to a major airport. Other reports have stated that the couple aboard the plane was sightseeing and exploring the area, and that the young woman wanted an adventure.
The plane’s male passenger said that he was looking out of the window when he realized that the plane had gotten close to making impact. He stated that the plane made contact in the next instant, and that the nose dropped as the power cut off. Eyewitnesses in the area claimed that the plane was moving unusually fast as it was headed for the beach, and made a huge splash when it crashed forcefully onto the shore.
Another witness stated that a man got out of the aircraft immediately after it landed and was crying as he stood in front of the plane and handled the front landing gear. Allegedly, he stated to witnesses that he would never get on a plane again and was concerned for the welfare of the others onboard. Some reports stated that the pilot told police that he had permission to land, and that he was speaking casually to air traffic controllers. Such aspects of the case have authorities questioning if the emergency was genuine.
A NYPD Helicopter arrived quickly on the scene, and all three passengers were later questioned for several hours at the 101st Precinct stationhouse. The Federal Aviation Administration will take part in the investigation, and has discovered that the plane was registered to Plane Nonsense Inc. of Bear, Delaware. Another plane belonging to the company crashed into a fence at the end of a Massachusetts runway last September.
The pilot’s parents arrived early this morning and all three passengers left without speaking to the press. Some reports have declared the landing to be smooth in spite of the circumstance.
