Unresponsive Plane Reportedly Crashes North of Jamaica
Update, 4:09 p.m.: New York Daily News has identified real estate tycoon Larry Glazer, 68, and his wife Jane, also 68, as the pilots of the plane. The family of the couple from Rochester, N.Y., confirmed the report.
Update, 2:51 p.m.: The Associated Press has clarified an earlier report: The plane crashed in the ocean north of Jamaica instead of on the island.
MORE: A Jamaican military spokesman says the U.S.-based plane went down about 14 miles northeast of Port Antonio: http://t.co/p9JXSMUwex
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 5, 2014
Maj. Basil Jarrett of the Jamaican Defense Force told the AP the plane crashed about 14 miles northeast of Port Antonio. The military has sent aircraft to investigate the site.
Update, 2:40 p.m.: The plane has crashed in Jamaica, officials told the AP.
BREAKING: Jamaican officials say unresponsive US plane has crashed on the island.
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 5, 2014
Original story:
A pair of U.S. military jet fighters followed a small unresponsive aircraft over the Atlantic Ocean until it entered Cuban airspace, NORAD said Friday.
Unresponsive aircraft has entered Cuban airspace. #NORAD fighters have broken off trail.
— NORAD & USNORTHCOM (@NoradNorthcom) September 5, 2014
Here is the initial announcement:
#NORAD F-15 fighter jets are currently escorting an unresponsive small aircraft over the Atlantic, possible hypoxia. More to follow.
— NORAD & USNORTHCOM (@NoradNorthcom) September 5, 2014
The two F-15s were flying with the plane east of Florida, and a NORAD spokesman said the windows appeared frosted. Though the jets did not enter Cuban airspace, NORAD has kept in touch with Cuban authorities through the U.S. Coast Guard. Both NORAD and the F.A.A. are still tracking the plane.
NORAD says fighter pilots reported seeing fog on the aircraft’s windows. It's believed all aboard are unconscious. Hypoxia is suspected.
— Gio Benitez (@GioBenitez) September 5, 2014
Hypoxia is speculated to be the cause of the unresponsiveness, as a loss of oxygen could lead to all passengers and crew becoming unconscious.
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The plane is a Socata TBM-700 light business and utility aircraft that had departed from Rochester, New York, for Naples, Flo., with a landing time set for around 2:05 p.m. It is unclear how much fuel is left.
A similar situation occurred just last week, when an unconscious pilot flew a small plane into restricted airspace over Washington, D.C. NORAD also sent fighter jets to escort the plane, until it eventually crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.
Below is NORAD's release on the current investigation:
Publication by NORAD and USNORTHERN Command.
This article was originally published at http://www.thewire.com/national/2014/09/unresponsive-plane-breaches-cuban-airspace/379708/
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