UPDATE: Two Rescued After Plane Crashes Off Connecticut Coast Near Thimble Islands

UPDATE: Two Rescued After Plane Crashes Off Connecticut Coast Near Thimble Islands

EAST HAVEN, CT — June 1, 2025 — Two individuals were rescued and are in stable condition following a small aircraft crash off the coast of East Haven, Connecticut, early Sunday morning. The U.S. Coast Guard Station New Haven responded swiftly to the emergency, pulling both occupants from the water southeast of the Thimble Islands, a picturesque cluster of islets near Branford.

The crash, which occurred roughly six miles from Tweed New Haven Airport, was first reported around 9:30 a.m. after authorities received a distress call referencing a downed plane near 155 Burr Street. Initial reports indicated that the aircraft had gone down into Long Island Sound with two people onboard.

Responding to the emergency, Coast Guard units launched from Station New Haven and were able to quickly locate the wreckage site, where the two individuals had managed to escape the sinking aircraft and were awaiting rescue in the water. The Coast Guard said the victims were wearing life vests, which helped keep them afloat while rescue boats closed in.

Once safely onboard the rescue vessel, both individuals were assessed and reported to be in stable condition. They were promptly transported to Stony Creek Pier in Branford, where emergency medical services were waiting to provide further evaluation and care. Neither occupant sustained life-threatening injuries, although they were taken to a local hospital for precautionary treatment and observation.

In a brief statement, the U.S. Coast Guard credited the quick response time and coordination between air traffic control, local dispatch, and maritime rescue crews for the successful outcome.

“We train constantly for situations like this,” said Chief Petty Officer Laura Reynolds of USCG Station New Haven. “Thanks to that preparation, we were able to reach the victims quickly and ensure they received the care they needed. We’re grateful that both individuals are safe tonight.”

The identities of the two people rescued have not been publicly released. It is unclear whether the aircraft was privately owned or operated by a flight school. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Eyewitnesses in the area described seeing the aircraft flying unusually low before hearing a loud splash and then silence. One local resident, who was kayaking off the coast of Branford at the time, said he saw the aircraft descending rapidly toward the water. “It looked like the pilot was trying to make a controlled water landing,” he said. “It didn’t nosedive — it came down pretty flat, but it was fast.”

Authorities have not yet confirmed the make and model of the aircraft, though flight tracking data suggested the possibility of a small general aviation plane having gone off radar shortly before the crash.

As of Sunday afternoon, recovery crews remained on the scene, attempting to locate and secure the aircraft wreckage, which is believed to have partially submerged in relatively shallow water southeast of the Thimble Islands. Divers and marine salvage teams have been deployed to assist with the operation, which could take several days depending on conditions.

Tweed New Haven Airport officials confirmed that the aircraft had departed from or was attempting to reach the airport at the time of the incident, though further details are pending as investigators reconstruct the final moments of the flight.

Local officials praised the Coast Guard and first responders for their rapid action and professionalism. “This could have ended very differently,” said Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney. “Thanks to a quick and coordinated response, we’re celebrating a rescue today instead of mourning a tragedy.”

The FAA and NTSB are expected to release preliminary findings in the coming days. In the meantime, the area around the crash site has been cordoned off to marine traffic as the investigation and recovery efforts continue. Authorities are asking boaters to avoid the vicinity of the Thimble Islands until further notice.