Two Rescued After Small Plane Crashes Into Long Island Sound

A Piper PA-32 small aircraft crashed into the Long Island Sound off Branford, Connecticut, after the pilot declared an emergency about 10 minutes into the flight from Bridgeport-Sikorsky Airport. The pilot managed to make a controlled water landing and called 911 with precise coordinates before the plane sank. The U.S. Coast Guard, aided by a good Samaritan vessel, rescued the pilot and a teenage passenger, both of whom were treated for minor injuries and hypothermia before being taken to Yale New Haven Hospital. Local authorities and responders praised the pilot's skill and the Coast Guard's swift action, calling the survival outcome a miracle given the choppy seas and water temperature around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident, awaiting plane recovery to determine any further inquiry. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim commended the first responders for their effective efforts under difficult conditions.