BRANFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Two people were rescued after a plane crashed into the ocean off the coast of Connecticut Sunday morning, according to officials.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said around 10:30 a.m., a Piper PA-32 Cherokee with two occupants crashed into the Long Island Sound, not far from Tweed New Haven Airport.
Tweed officials said the plane was traveling from Bridgeport, Conn., to an undisclosed location. The plane was diverted to Tweed for an emergency landing about eight miles away from the airport.
A crew from the Coast Guard station in New Haven arrived on the scene first, followed by first responders from nearby towns including Branford, Guilford, and West Haven. By the time rescue crews from other areas responded to the scene, the plane had fully submerged into the Long Island Sound, according to the Branford Fire Department.
Fire officials said the pilot was able to send his coordinates before the plane sank.
A representative from the Coast Guard told Nexstar that the plane’s two occupants had managed to get out of the plane before crews arrived. They were rescued from the water, wearing life jackets, and were transported to the care of medical crews. They were treated for minor injuries and hypothermia, and were taken to a nearby hospital for additional care, the Coast Guard said.
“We are deeply relieved that both individuals were safely recovered and extend our sincere gratitude to all federal, state, and local responders for their swift and coordinated response,” reads a message posted to Facebook from airport officials with Tweed.
The FAA is investigating.