Miracle on the Long Island Sound: Father, daughter safe after plane lands just off coast of New Haven
The pilot is credited with saving himself and his young passenger. Experts say that this could've ended much worse.
2 rescued after plane crashes into the Long Island Sound
With his teenage daughter, a pilot took off from Sikorsky Airport in Stratford on Sunday to an undisclosed location when something went wrong in the cockpit. The plane was just eight miles from Tweed Airport.
'I'm not sure of his level of training, but his calmness and ability to react to the incident and call for help, and give as much detail as he could in terms of his location and what was occurring made a difference,' Branford Deputy Fire Chief Mike Stackpole said.
The pilot, identified as J. Scott Edwards of Newtown, was flying a piper 32 Cherokee plane and thought fast as the plane plunged toward the water.
Once the pilot was able to ditch the plane into the water, he was able to get himself and his daughter into the water with life jackets on — once he did that, he took out his phone and called 911 for help.
The Coast Guard and Branford Fire Department raced to the plane that's submerging by the second. They say that timing was critical.
'Depending on the weather and how he landed the plane, his training, if he wasn't able to do a water landing safely…it could have ended differently,' Stackpole said.
Crews were working today to get an exact location of the plane and then that the spot gets marked. No word yet when the wreckage gets pulled.
Both the father and the daughter walked away with minor injuries we're told. No word yet on what went wrong with the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating.
Watch the full story above.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Yahoo
Importance of colorectal cancer screenings
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Younger adults are facing a silent threat: colorectal cancer cases are on the rise, and experts say it's hitting harder and earlier than ever before. Madhavi Bhoomagoud, a Hartford HealthCare Digestive Health Institute gastroenterologist with Midstate Medical Center, spoke with News 8's Keith Kountz about the most common warning signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer that should never be ignored. She also explains what is behind the rise in colorectal cancer cases among younger adults, even those under age 45 who aren't eligible for screening yet. Watch the video above and visit or call 860-901-7008 for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Connecticut leaders address use of controversial chemical diquat against hydrilla
DEEP RIVER, Conn. (WTNH) — Connecticut leaders are addressing concerns about the use of the controversial chemical diquat to combat hydrilla. Diquat dibromide is approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency for aquatic use, but is currently banned in the European Union. Conversation has stirred online — including stemming from a petition with close to 20,000 signatures — pointing to concerns over the chemical's use in state waterways. Known as a severe irritant, some studies have shown it could also pose harm to aquatic life. 'The evidence to date shows that any negative effects on aquatic life are short term and reversible. The impacts of hydrilla are not,' Alicea Charamut of the Rivers Alliance of Connecticut said Friday. Through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, plans are in place to treat waterways via sub-surface injection into limited ponds, coves and marinas state-wide. If left unchecked, experts say the overgrowth of hydrilla could lead to depleted oxygen levels in waterways, affecting local wildlife and fauna. 'Hydrilla is really the greater evil,' Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Mason Trumble said, 'It can spread really quickly.' State leaders say the decision to use the herbicide was not made lightly. Greg Bugbee of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, who worked closely with the Army Corps of Engineers, explained Friday that multiple test sites, public hearings and workshops over the span of three years were brought into consideration. 'They wanted to test all options that they knew could possibly work,' Bugbee said. According to a public notice sent by the Army Corps of Engineers, treatment will be happening at these locations: Chester Creek in Chester Deep River in Deep River Hamburg Cove in Lyme Joshua Creek in Lyme Mattabesset River in Middletown Parker's Point in Chester an expanded Portland Boat Works in Portland Post and Pratt Coves in Deep River Salmon River in East Haddam Selden Creek in Lyme Lake Pocotopaug in East Hampton Pameacha Pond in Middletown Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
Connecticut leaders announce increased funding for Community Health Centers
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Connecticut leaders, including Gov. Ned Lamont (D), held a news conference Wednesday morning to announce an increase in financial support for Connecticut's Community Health Centers. Gunshot victim walks into New Haven hospital, police investigating The nonprofit, community-based facilities provide primary and preventative care to everyone, regardless of income or insurance status. Gov. Lamont said that service is crucial right now. 'I think it represents the very best in health care in our country,' Gov. Lamont said. 'Something we ought to try to replicate.' The state's Community Health Centers serve approximately 440,000 people each year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
