Quotes and Comments

about the F-84 crash

"I heard an explosion behind me so I veered the plane a little to the right and headed for water ... I saw the water ahead. Of course, you don't have much time to think, but I knew if I reached the Sound nobody would get hurt. ... This is what we get flying pay for." First Lieutenant Donald O'Connell, the pilot.

While guiding the plane to water, First Lieutenant O'Connell was burned on his face and arms.

The plane made "a long slow easy glide with flames and smoke coming from the fuselage." Larchmonter William Soper who observed the plane over Larchmont.

"The pilot should be highly commended for using his head at an extreme moment." Village Clerk Margaret Lord

He should be praised for "staying with his plane long enough to direct it over open water. I thought it remarkable that he got out at all and that nobody was seriously injured." Village Engineer Frank Griffin

"It was obvious the pilot was in trouble and his best bet was to head for open water and aviod hitting a residential area. Reports to the Police Department, however, indicate how good a demonstration this crash was to show how panicky people can get under stress. Several persons along the waterfront called and were in a rather dazed condition although, actually, no resident was hurt by the accident." Larchmont Police Chief William Keresey

"This points up or problem because even the pilot knew the safest place for everybody concerned was the Sound. I know he had no choice, but the airlines do. They can use the Sound instead of taking the unnecessary risk of passing over our Village. It's time residents here pooled their efforts with those of the Town and Village of Mamaroneck to request the airlines to route their planes directly down the Sound and to cease using our area for a shortcut." Larchmonter Jerome Wanshel