[08/17] 1 killed, 1 hurt in small plane crash on Long Island railway

August 17, 2015

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. (AP) – One person has been killed and another person injured in a small plane crash on Long Island that shut down service on one branch of the nation’s busiest commuter rail system.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Salvatore Arena says the plane came down at a railway crossing in Hicksville. The FAA says the plane had departed from Francis Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach when it came down shortly before 8 a.m. Sunday after the pilot reported a problem.

Hicksville Fire Department First Assistant Chief Richard Diaz says the plane was “just a pile of metal that was burning.” He says one of the wings had been torn off, and the other mangled along with the body of the plane.

Long Island Rail Road service in the area was fully restored about 12 hours later after being suspended while crews worked to remove the wreckage.

AP