Short Final: Plane In The Water

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 11:16 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A NY State Police helicopter (GrayRider 5) was initially dispatched to a "plane in the water," believing it to be an emergency landing.
They subsequently updated their mission upon realizing it was a float plane, designed to land on water, and therefore not in distress.

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I was talking to New York Approach when I heard the following:

GrayRider 5 (NY State Police): “Albany Approach, GrayRider 5. Change of mission. That plane in the water, well it’s confirmed as a float plane, so it’s now direct to Deer Park for Gray Rider 5.”

Apparently they were under the mistaken impression that an airplane had landed on the water after an emergency.

Daniel Spitzer
Montgomery, New York