NORAD tracking unresponsive airplane over the Atlantic Ocean
Digital Reporter
Friday, September 5, 2014, 3:41 PM - An unresponsive airplane being traced by NORAD has crashed.
"FAA confirms the unresponsive aircraft crashed about 14 miles [22 km] off the coast of Port Antonio, Jamaica at about 2:15 p.m. EDT," the agency says in a tweet.
The Socata TBM-700 light business and utility craft departed Rochester, New York en route to Naples, Florida Friday morning.
At 11:30 a.m. local time occupants failed to respond to communication attempts.
The seven-seater craft had been closely monitored by NORAD and the Federal Aviation Administration.
#RightNow (1:08pm est) -
#NORAD Fighter jets tracking plane w/ unresponsive occupants over Atlantic Ocean pic.twitter.com/Vl4KubY4mO
— Mark Day (@1310NewsDay) September 5, 2014
Two F-15 fighter jets were escorting the airplane but were forced to back off when it crossed into Cuban airspace. Officials have reached out to Cuban authorities, and another plane began tailing the craft when the fighter jets departed.
Reports suggest the windows were frosted.
#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
Officials suspect the pilot may have fallen victim to hypoxia -- a condition in which a patient is deprived of oxygen, causing him or her to lose consciousness.
According to the NY Daily News, the plane is registered to Buckingham Properties, owned by Rochester resident Larry Glazer.
A tweet from WROC-TV says Larry and his wife Jane were on the ill-fated plane. Both died in the crash.
Looks like #N900KN just disappeared off the radar over the ocean N/E of Port Antonio Jamaica #NORAD
— J.T. Alpaugh (@JTAlpaugh) September 5, 2014