Skydiving Plane Crashes in New York, Results in Fatality

A skydiving plane crashed in Niagara County, NY, killing one. The Cessna 208B crashed after releasing divers. An investigation is underway involving local and federal authorities.

A tragic incident unfolded on Saturday in Niagara County, New York, when a skydiving plane crashed, resulting in the death of one person. The plane, a single-engine Cessna 208B used for skydiving operations, went down near Lake Road near Youngstown shortly before 1 pm, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The aircraft, which belonged to the Skydive the Falls skydiving center, had successfully released all divers and was returning to land when it crashed, as per the news release from the Niagara County Sheriff's Office. FAA spokesperson Tammy L. Jones confirmed that the pilot, the only person on board, was conducting parachute operations prior to the crash. Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti noted in a press conference that the number of divers on board before the crash remains unclear.

Adding to the disaster, a brush fire ignited around the crash site, necessitating immediate action from the first responders to extinguish a significant blaze, Filicetti reported. He described the crash as "an unfortunate incident" and assured that local and federal law enforcement teams are diligently investigating the cause. Peter Knudson, a spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), announced that an investigator would travel to the site to examine the wreckage, which will later be moved to a secure facility for further analysis. The investigation will focus on three primary areas: the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment.

(With inputs from agencies.)