A devastating plane crash occurred on Saturday in a field near the town of Copake, N.Y., resulting in at least one confirmed fatality, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. The aircraft, identified as a Mitsubishi MU-2B, was en route to the Columbia County Airport near Hudson, N.Y., carrying two passengers when it went down shortly after noon, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The unfortunate incident took place near Two Town Road and, fortunately, did not cause damage to any nearby structures, as confirmed by Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore during a news conference on Saturday afternoon. While the exact number of fatalities remains unclear, Ms. Salvatore did indicate that the identities of the two passengers are still undisclosed.
According to tracking data from Flightradar24, the private plane departed from Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., shortly after 11:30 a.m. It was headed north toward Hudson before making a turn eastward around noon, just moments before it disappeared from radar in the vicinity of Copake, a small town adjacent to Taconic State Park and near the Massachusetts border. FAA records indicate that the aircraft was registered to a company based outside of Boston.
Law enforcement officials received a 911 call reporting the crash around noon. In response, personnel from the New York State Police and a local fire department joined the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department at the scene. Ms. Salvatore noted that the weather conditions at the time were relatively mild, with overcast skies and wind gusts reaching up to 26 miles per hour, as per the National Weather Service.
The situation was complicated by snow and moisture on the ground, which hindered the emergency response efforts. “It’s in the middle of a field and it’s pretty muddy, so accessibility is difficult,” Ms. Salvatore explained, highlighting the challenges faced by responders on-site.
As of Saturday afternoon, the cause of the plane crash remained unclear. Local law enforcement agencies have plans to conduct interviews in the surrounding neighborhood to gather additional information. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are actively investigating the incident, as stated in the FAA's official communication.
This tragic event has raised concerns and questions regarding aviation safety, particularly involving private aircraft. Further updates will be provided as more details emerge from the ongoing investigations.
