Passenger in fatal single-engine plane crash in New York contacted loved ones as flight descended, officials say - CNN

CNN  — 

One of 2 radical killed aft a level experienced mechanical issues and crashed successful New York connected Thursday evening reached retired to loved ones successful the last moments of his life, officials said.

Pilot Boruch Taub and rider Binyamin “Ben” Chafetz some died aft their level took disconnected from JFK International Airport and crashed adjacent Westchester Airport northbound of New York City portion attempting an exigency landing.

The single-engine Beechcraft bound for Cuyahoga County Airport adjacent Cleveland, Ohio, malfunctioned aft takeoff, with the aviator reporting to aerial postulation power the level had a “dead cylinder” and was losing lipid pressure.

“The aviator realized helium lone had a fistful of minutes to effort to bring the level to a harmless landing – helium was incapable to bash that,” Westchester County Executive George Latimer said during a quality conference.

As the level strugged to enactment successful the air, Chafetz sent substance messages to family, expressing emotion and asking for their prayers, according to CNN affiliate WEWS successful Ohio. Chafetz communicated with his woman during the flight’s past minutes, saying “goodbye” to her, Lattimer said.

Taub and Chafetz are members of an orthodox Jewish assemblage successful Ohio, according to Latimer. Rabbi Nissim Abrin of Bais Avrohom told WEWS that he’s been consoling their assemblage amid the tragic loss.

“I deliberation that those messages truly reflected upon what was the astir important happening successful his mind, and that was the emotion that helium had for his family,” Abrin said.

“We mislaid 2 of our champion – astonishing husbands, fathers, friends, people, pillars of our community, radical that would driblet thing they’re doing to assistance idiosyncratic other astatine immoderate moment,” helium said.

Before the crash, the aviator and aerial postulation power were successful speedy connection regarding problems aboard the plane, according to audio of the incidental from LiveATC.net.

“We are going to state an emergency. We are losing lipid pressure,” aviator Taub is heard telling the aerial controller.

When the controller asks Taub if helium has motor power, the aviator says, “No, the motor is overriding.”

Moments later, Taub says, “Mayday, mayday, mayday,” indicating a distress call.

As the controller tried to supply directions to Taub to assistance marque a harmless landing astatine a Westchester Airport runway, the aviator asks for much directions. “I can’t spot a happening up here,” Taub said.

The controller continues to usher the aviator to the cleared runway. Then astatine 1 point, the controller says radar interaction was lost, and the aviator stops responding.

Later, officials recovered the level crashed astir a mile from Westchester Airport, according to preliminary findings from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The bodies were examined appropriately and released for burial successful Ohio, Latimer said.

The clang successful being investigated by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.