Coast Guard Responds to NY Plane Crash

The Coast Guard launched a multi-asset response on Jan. 15 when a passenger plane plunged into the Hudson River here.

Upon initial notification, Coast Guard Sector New York launched a fleet of small rescue boats and the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Ridley, based in Montauk. Once on scene, the crews distributed life jackets.

Three helicopters from Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., and one from Air Station Cape Cod, Mass., also launched. Initial estimates are that the Coast Guard rescued 35 people, and took them to a medical staging area at the Chelsea piers. The plane is reportedly stabilized and a salvage team is en route to begin work on removing it from the water.

The Escanaba, a 270-foot cutter from Boston, patrolling offshore, was diverted and is expected to arrive early Friday. On scene, the winds are 10-15 knots. The water temperature is 36 degrees. Coast Guard vessels remain on scene and are assessing the environmental impact and navigational risks.