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Coast Guard, local agencies rescue three and search for survivor of a plane crash near Port Jefferson, New York

February 21, 2016

NEW YORK CITY — Coast Guard crews and local responders are searching for a survivor of a small plane, which reportedly crashed into the Port Jefferson Harbor in Port Jefferson, New York, Saturday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound received a call at approximately 11 p.m. Saturday, reporting a small plane with four people aboard had crashed into the Port Jefferson Harbor. 

Sector Long Island Sound issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast notice to mariners, requesting vessels in the area to keep a sharp lookout for the crashed plane and for any survivors. 

A 45-foot Response Boat–Medium from Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck and an MH-60 Jayhawk Helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod were launched and immediately started searching for survivors in the Port Jefferson Harbor. 

Other local agencies also launched assets to assist in the rescue of the passengers aboard the crashed plane.

Suffolk County Aviation Division located three people in the water wearing their life jackets and swimming to shore.

One of the survivors swam to shore and a Suffolk County Marine Delta rescue vessel rescued two of the other survivors.

The three survivors were transported to the hospital for further evaluation.

Search efforts continued into Sunday including Suffolk County divers and a first light search flight conducted by an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Air Station Cape Cod. 

Assets involved in the search include:

  • Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews

  • Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft

  • Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck 45-foot Response Boat–Medium

  • Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound

  • Bridge Port Marine Police Department

  • Mount Sinai Fire Rescue Department

  • Nissequogue Fire Rescue Department

  • Setauket Fire Rescue Department

  • Suffolk County Aviation Department

  • Suffolk County Marine Delta

  • Stony Brook Fire Rescue Department

Coast Guard crews, local responders and good Samaritans are still on scene.

The cause of the plane crash is under investigation.