Yakov Friedman Obituary, Death, FAA: Pilot killed in Westchester crash identified as Monsey resident
Yakov Friedman Obituary, Death – On Thursday evening, a tragic plane crash occurred on Interstate 684 in Harrison, New York, resulting in one fatality and one serious injury. The small aircraft involved, a single-engine Tecnam P-2008, crashed around 6:35 p.m. near the New York-Connecticut border. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft had taken off from Linden, New Jersey, prior to the crash, as reported by FlightAware.
The pilot of the plane, 32-year-old Yakov Friedman from Monsey, was identified as the person who died in the crash. Friedman had radioed air traffic control earlier, indicating he was experiencing engine trouble and was attempting to make an emergency landing at Westchester County Airport. Aviation expert Sal Lagonia explained that Friedman had flown over the Tappan Zee Bridge, initially heading toward the airport before attempting to line up with runway 16. However, his plane ultimately fell short of the airport.
Despite his efforts to land safely, the crash occurred just north of the airport, and Friedman was unable to make it to the runway. Authorities confirmed his death at the scene, while a second individual in the plane sustained serious injuries. The FAA and local authorities continue their investigation into the cause of the crash.
Governor Kathy Hochul mentioned that the incident also resulted in a gas spill, which added to the complexity of the situation. Following the crash, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to arrive at the scene on Friday to begin their own probe into the cause of the crash.
Meanwhile, New York State Police confirmed that all lanes of I-684 were reopened overnight after the crash was cleared. The NTSB has urged anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them at witness@ntsb.gov. The investigation is ongoing, as authorities work to understand the circumstances that led to this fatal crash.
