Officials: Small plane crash in North Lindenhurst kills 1, injures 2

A video of the incident taken from a Ring doorbell appears to show the plane flying low, striking trees and bursting into flames.

Bob Doda

Mar 5, 2023, 8:55 PM

Updated 429 days ago

Share:

A small plane crashed in North Lindenhurst Sunday afternoon in the area of 5th Street and North Wellwood Avenue, killing one person on board and critically injuring two others.
A video of the incident taken from a Ring doorbell shows the plane flying low, striking trees and bursting into flames. It crashed just 300 feet south of Long Island Rail Road tracks.
The fire from the crash ignited some nearby woods along the LIRR tracks, which prompted a shutdown of service for several hours.
There were no injuries on the ground or damage to any homes.
Suffolk County Police Department Chief of Detectives John Rowan said air traffic controllers at Republic Airport received a call about smoke in the cockpit around 3 p.m. The single engine plane was privately owned had been on a sightseeing tour and was on its final approach back to the airport before it crashed.
"The pilot reported smoke in the cockpit. That aircraft was attempting to return to Republic Airport when, unfortunately, he did not make it and crashed in this area behind us," Rowan said.
Police had not identified the victims as of Sunday night.
The two people who were injured were medevacked to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical condition. It was not clear if the deceased was the pilot or a passenger.
Emin Aydan told News 12 Long Island that he helped two people, a man and woman, get to safety before emergency crews arrived.
Jennifer Suriano lives nearby and saw the plume of smoke and did not know what had happened.
"It was a big puff of black smoke like I've never seen before. I told my husband, 'Get out of the house. I don't know what's going on,'" she recalled.
Police and others were glad the plane crashed in a relatively empty area, considering there were buildings and homes nearby.
"We are very fortunate that there was no one else on the ground that was injured. Obviously, this is a tragic event. We are happy no one else was hurt," Rowan said.
Suffolk police said the NTSB and FAA will investigate the crash.
Credit: Nestor Castillo
Credit: Nestor Castillo
 


More from News 12
2:43
Pro-Palestinian rally set for today at Stony Brook train station; parking lot closed

Pro-Palestinian rally set for today at Stony Brook train station; parking lot closed

3:11
Sunny breaks this afternoon for Long Island with temperatures near 80

Sunny breaks this afternoon for Long Island with temperatures near 80

0:15
20-year-old man accused of breaking into home in Riverhead

20-year-old man accused of breaking into home in Riverhead

0:26
Riverhead police rescue 5 from boat in Peconic Bay; drone used to track boat

Riverhead police rescue 5 from boat in Peconic Bay; drone used to track boat

1:38
Flip Circus comes to Smith Haven Mall, Walt Whitman Shops

Flip Circus comes to Smith Haven Mall, Walt Whitman Shops

1:43
Garden Guide: These plants repel weeds and are a natural fertilizer!

Garden Guide: These plants repel weeds and are a natural fertilizer!

1:27
What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's quiche lorraine

What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's quiche lorraine

2:33
Family raises money to reunite Farmingdale HS sweethearts killed in Washington accident

Family raises money to reunite Farmingdale HS sweethearts killed in Washington accident

2:09
Exclusive look at field and stadium built for Cricket World Cup at Eisenhower Park

Exclusive look at field and stadium built for Cricket World Cup at Eisenhower Park

0:19
Police: Man shot during argument in Mt. Sinai

Police: Man shot during argument in Mt. Sinai

0:43
Huntington woman honored with citation for devotion to town ahead of 100th birthday

Huntington woman honored with citation for devotion to town ahead of 100th birthday

0:26
Lindenhurst man sentenced to up to 40 years behind bars for burning women with clothing iron

Lindenhurst man sentenced to up to 40 years behind bars for burning women with clothing iron

1:47
Man accused of killing NYPD detective from Massapequa Park indicted on murder charges

Man accused of killing NYPD detective from Massapequa Park indicted on murder charges

1:39
Bee on the lookout: Bees are all the buzz at Shoreham-Wading River HS

Bee on the lookout: Bees are all the buzz at Shoreham-Wading River HS

0:44
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine addresses public safety, inflation in State of the County

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine addresses public safety, inflation in State of the County

2:27
Huntington Town Board hosts second public hearing on walkable downtown in Melville

Huntington Town Board hosts second public hearing on walkable downtown in Melville

1:38
Sand delivered to Tobay Beach as crews work on opening access to the beach

Sand delivered to Tobay Beach as crews work on opening access to the beach

1:54
Nassau police arrest accused jewelry thief wanted across the world

Nassau police arrest accused jewelry thief wanted across the world

Long Island National Teacher Appreciation Week Photos

Long Island National Teacher Appreciation Week Photos

2:23
Main Street Long Island: Showcasing the best of Massapequa Park

Main Street Long Island: Showcasing the best of Massapequa Park