Tragedy as body of pilot, 56, who crashed his vintage WWII fighter in the Hudson River is found during desperate rescue attempt

  • William Gordon was trying to crash land the World War II P-47 Thunderbolt after experiencing mechanical issues 
  • 56-year-old's body was recovered from the aircraft around 10.30pm, three hours after the plane crashed
  • New Jersey State Police had first inaccurately reported that the pilot had been rescued around 9pm
  • Plane, named Jacky's Revenge, was scheduled to perform at the Jones Beach Airshow this weekend for Fleet Week 

By Anneta Konstantinides For Dailymail.com

Published: 19:07 EST, 27 May 2016 | Updated: 08:32 EST, 28 May 2016

The pilot of a small World War II fighter plane was killed after his aircraft crashed into the Hudson River.

William Gordon, 56, was trying to crash land the World War II vintage P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft after experiencing mechanical issues when it went down on Friday. 

Gordon's body was recovered from the aircraft around 10.30pm, three hours after the plane crashed.

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William Gordon was trying to crash land the plane, which was experiencing mechanical issues, when the tragedy struck

William Gordon was trying to crash land the plane, which was experiencing mechanical issues, when the tragedy struck

The pilot had attempted to get out of the aircraft before it became completely submerged in the river

The pilot had attempted to get out of the aircraft before it became completely submerged in the river

William Gordon, 56, was killed after his aircraft, the WWII vintage P-47 Thunderbolt plane he is pictured with here, crashed into the Hudson River on Friday 

William Gordon, 56, was killed after his aircraft, the WWII vintage P-47 Thunderbolt plane he is pictured with here, crashed into the Hudson River on Friday 

Gordon's body was recovered from the aircraft around 10.30pm, three hours after the plane went down

Gordon's body was recovered from the aircraft around 10.30pm, three hours after the plane went down

Witnesses could actually see Gordon struggle as he tried to get out of the plane before it became completely submerged in the water

Witnesses could actually see Gordon struggle as he tried to get out of the plane before it became completely submerged in the water

New Jersey State Police had first inaccurately reported that the pilot had been rescued around 9pm and only suffered minor injuries, according to the NYPD. 

Witnesses could actually see Gordon struggle as he tried to get out of the plane before it became completely submerged in the water.

'He was strapped into the seat belt and trying to get out, but there was no hope for him,' witness Camara Dodd told WABC. 

NYPD and FDNY Harbor units and the Coast Guard remained on the scene at the 79th boat basin on the Upper West Side on Friday night. 

The plane, named Jacky's Revenge, was scheduled to perform at the Jones Beach Airshow this weekend for Fleet Week.

The pilot of a small World War II fighter plane was killed after his aircraft crashed into the Hudson River 

The pilot of a small World War II fighter plane was killed after his aircraft crashed into the Hudson River 

New Jersey State Police had first inaccurately reported that the pilot had been rescued around 9pm and only suffered minor injuries, according to the NYPD 

New Jersey State Police had first inaccurately reported that the pilot had been rescued around 9pm and only suffered minor injuries, according to the NYPD 

NYPD and FDNY Harbor units and the Coast Guard remained on the scene at the 79th boat basin on the Upper West Side on Friday night

NYPD and FDNY Harbor units and the Coast Guard remained on the scene at the 79th boat basin on the Upper West Side on Friday night

Officials said the plane crashed two miles south of George Washington Bridge around 7.30pm

Officials said the plane crashed two miles south of George Washington Bridge around 7.30pm

It was on loan from the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport on Long Island, spokesman Gary Lewi told NBC New York.  

It was flying with at least two other planes, a P-40 fighter aircraft and a photo plane, along the river to take promotional pictures for the show and the museum's website.  

The pilot decided to crash land in the Hudson after experiencing engine failure, Lewi told Newsday.  

The plane, which took off from Republic Airport, crashed two miles south of the George Washington Bridge and was closer to the New Jersey side, according to the NYPD.

Divers spotted the pilot in the plane's cockpit around 9pm.  

The plane was on loan from the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport on Long Island 

The plane was on loan from the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport on Long Island 

One witness snapchatted the plane, which was flying along the river to take promotional photos for the upcoming Jones Beach Airshow, just moments before it went down

One witness snapchatted the plane, which was flying along the river to take promotional photos for the upcoming Jones Beach Airshow, just moments before it went down

Another witness captured the moment the plane crashed into the river while he biked along the Hudson

Another witness captured the moment the plane crashed into the river while he biked along the Hudson

Officials said the plane reportedly went down around 7.30pm.  

One witness attempted to jump into the river to rescue those on board but was pulled from the water, according to the Hackensack Daily Voice.   

Witnesses who were eating at Frank's Waterside Restaurant in North Bergen, New Jersey, told NBC they saw the aircraft fall into the water nose first.  

'The front glass was off and the guy was trying to get out. He just couldn't get out, the plane kept going down, down, down, just gone.'

The Federal Aviation Administration said it received a report the plane was a World War II vintage P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft (pictured)

The Federal Aviation Administration said it received a report the plane was a World War II vintage P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft (pictured)

The plane, named Jacky's Revenge, is registered to Jeff Clyman (pictured) - who was not the pilot on Friday

The plane, named Jacky's Revenge, is registered to Jeff Clyman (pictured) - who was not the pilot on Friday

The plane was secured to an FDNY vessel and the US Army Corps of Engineers will attempt to lift it from the river on Saturday morning.

Gordon was an experienced pilot, originally from upstate Copake, in Columbia County, according to New York Daily News.

In recent years he had been the Chief Pilot at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Red Hook. 

The P-47 fighter planes were built from 1941 to 1945. They weighed up to eight tons when fully loaded and could carry a bomb load of 2,500 pounds.

This weekend, the American Airpower Museum is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the P-47 Thunderbolt.

The NYPD and FDNY worked together in a joint operation in the rescue effort

The NYPD and FDNY worked together in a joint operation in the rescue effort

Witnesses who were eating at Waterside Restaurant in North Bergen, New Jersey, saw the aircraft fall into the water nose first

Witnesses who were eating at Waterside Restaurant in North Bergen, New Jersey, saw the aircraft fall into the water nose first

The US Army Corps of Engineers will attempt to lift the submerged plane from the river around 10pm

The US Army Corps of Engineers will attempt to lift the submerged plane from the river around 10pm

  

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