Two men were killed when their small plane crashed off eastern Long Island yesterday afternoon, authorities said.
The Globe Swift plane took off from nearby Spadaro Airport and went down shortly after 3 p.m. in Moriches Inlet near Fire Island, according to a Coast Guard spokesman. Witnesses on a jetty called 911.
About eight hours later, emergency responders from the Coast Guard and the Suffolk Police Department were finally able to reach the unidentified victims and the plane, which had been about 30 feet below the surface.
Authorities said the plane sank after a good Samaritan tied a line onto it but rescuers couldn’t manage to get its doors opened
“It sank almost immediately,” said Mastic Beach Fire Chief Robert Ubaldo.
“We couldn’t get to the victims. There’s a very swift tide and very windy and rough seas.”
Suffolk County Deputy Police Inspector Christopher Hatton agreed.
“Even on a calm day, the tide at Moriches Inlet is very rough,” Hatton said.
Fifteen divers from seven agencies responded, he added, including “some assistance from civilian and commercial boats.”
A witness said the plane’s tail had come off, and could be seen eerily drifting out to sea.