Dramatic Rescue After Plane Crash in Long Island Sound

On June 2, 2025, a small plane crashed in Long Island Sound near Branford, Connecticut. The incident unfolded rapidly, with air traffic control immediately notifying the Coast Guard. The plane, identified as Cherokee 32369, had taken off from Bridgeport and declared an emergency shortly before the crash. An instructor and student were on board. A nearby pilot, whose identity has not been released, heard the distress call and assisted in the search. "We were both thinking to ourselves, well, you know, if we were in the unfortunate situation, we'd want as much help as possible," the pilot recounted in a post-incident interview. Eventually, a boater spotted the pair in the water, and the Coast Guard swiftly arrived to pull them to safety. The quick response and collaborative efforts of air traffic control, the Coast Guard, and a civilian pilot ensured a successful outcome. Both the instructor and student survived the ordeal.