Plane used for skydiving crashes in New York, resulting in 1 death
Date
7/22/2024 4:41:37 AM
(MENAFN) On Saturday, officials in New York initiated an investigation into a tragic plane crash in Niagara County that resulted in the death of one person. The crash involved a single-engine Cessna 208B, which was used for skydiving operations. The aircraft went down near Lake Road, close to Youngstown, New York, shortly before 1 PM, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The plane, which was operated by Skydive the Falls, had completed its skydiving operations and was in the process of returning to the airstrip when the crash occurred. According to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, the aircraft had released all divers and was en route back to land when the incident happened.
The FAA's spokesperson, Tammy L. Jones, confirmed that the pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was conducting parachute operations prior to the crash. The exact number of divers onboard before the crash remains unclear, as noted by Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti during a news conference.
In addition to the crash, a brush fire erupted at the crash site, prompting emergency responders to manage and extinguish what Sheriff Filicetti described as a “significant fire.” The sheriff characterized the crash as “an unfortunate incident” and emphasized that both local and federal law enforcement agencies are collaborating to determine the cause of the crash.
Peter Knudson, a spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), indicated that an NTSB investigator was expected to travel to the crash site on Saturday to begin an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
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