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| Unresponsive US plane crashes off Jamaica after pilots 'lose consciousness' | Unresponsive US plane crashes off Jamaica after pilots 'lose consciousness' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A private jet on a flight from New York state to Florida crashed off Jamaica on Friday after the pilots apparently lost consciousness. | |
| Two F15 fighter jets were launched from a US base to investigate the aircraft, after it veered from its flight path and was detected over the Caribbean. By the time it crashed, off the coast of Jamaica, it had travelled more than 1,700 miles and had crossed the airspace of Cuba, setting off diplomatic jitters. | |
| Norad, the North American air defence authority, which directed the response, said the occupants of the small, single-propeller plane, a Socata TBM-700, did not respond to attempts at communication. | |
| Officials suspect the occupants of the unresponsive airplane succumbed to hypoxia – a lack of oxygen, probably caused by a sudden drop in cabin pressure. “We suspect hypoxia,” said a Norad spokeswoman, Jennifer Stabnyck, a Canadian army captain. | |
| Stabnyck said that at one point, the two F15 jets tailing the unresponsive plane held back north and east of Cuba – not wanting to traverse its airspace. | Stabnyck said that at one point, the two F15 jets tailing the unresponsive plane held back north and east of Cuba – not wanting to traverse its airspace. |
| Major Basil Jarrett of the Jamaican Defence Force said the plane went down about 14 miles north-east of Port Antonio and the military sent aircraft to investigate. “We can confirm that the plane has gone down,” he said. There was no immediate information about the people on board. | |
| The plane had taken off from Rochester, New York, at 8.45am ET and filed a flight plan to Naples, Florida. The US air force and the Transportation Security Administration contacted Rochester airport officials about the plane at about 10.45am, according to Monroe county executive Maggie Brooks. The airport referred all inquiries to the Federal Aviation Administration. | The plane had taken off from Rochester, New York, at 8.45am ET and filed a flight plan to Naples, Florida. The US air force and the Transportation Security Administration contacted Rochester airport officials about the plane at about 10.45am, according to Monroe county executive Maggie Brooks. The airport referred all inquiries to the Federal Aviation Administration. |
| A local news website in Rochester, the Democrat and Chronicle, said the plane was believed to be registered to a local real estate developer, Larry Glazer. | A local news website in Rochester, the Democrat and Chronicle, said the plane was believed to be registered to a local real estate developer, Larry Glazer. |
| A biography on the Buckingham Properties website lists Glazer is CEO and managing partner of the company, which “currently owns manages more than 50 properties totaling over 9 million square feet in the Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes region”. | |
| The bio also said Glazer enjoys flying. | The bio also said Glazer enjoys flying. |
| Glazer’s son Rick Glazer told the Associated Press: “I don’t have any comment about what’s going on at this time.” | Glazer’s son Rick Glazer told the Associated Press: “I don’t have any comment about what’s going on at this time.” |
| There was no official confirmation about the identities of those on board, but local officials in Rochester began expressing their condolences. “I am deeply saddened to learn of the unconscionable and tragic passing of longtime personal friends, Larry and Jane Glazer,” said assemblyman Joseph Morelle, of Irondequoit, quoted by the Democrat and Chronicle. | |
| “The Glazers believed in the full potential of Rochester and their passion for our community was always on display, whether through their unrivalled commitment to the rebirth of downtown or through their many philanthropic and charitable activities.” | |
| At the US State Department, spokeswoman Marie Harf said Washington has “been in touch with the two countries” the unresponsive plane flew over after leaving the US – the Bahamas and Cuba. | At the US State Department, spokeswoman Marie Harf said Washington has “been in touch with the two countries” the unresponsive plane flew over after leaving the US – the Bahamas and Cuba. |
| The incident is the second time in less than a week that private pilot has become unresponsive during a flight. On Saturday, a pilot lost consciousness and his plane drifted into restricted airspace over Washington DC. Fighter jets were also launched in that case and stayed with the small aircraft until it ran out of fuel and crashed on Saturday into the Atlantic. | The incident is the second time in less than a week that private pilot has become unresponsive during a flight. On Saturday, a pilot lost consciousness and his plane drifted into restricted airspace over Washington DC. Fighter jets were also launched in that case and stayed with the small aircraft until it ran out of fuel and crashed on Saturday into the Atlantic. |
| The Associated Press contributed to this report | The Associated Press contributed to this report |