The Latest: Pilot who crashed in Hudson honored at ceremony
By Associated Press
May 28, 2016 3:20 PM CDT
NYPD search and rescue boats sit on the Hudson River near the site of small plane crash, Saturday, May 28, 2016, in North Bergen, N.J. A World War II vintage P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft crashed into the river Friday, May 27, 2016, killing its pilot. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)   (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the fatal crash of a vintage World War II plane into the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey (all times local):

4:15 p.m.

Fellow pilots have paid tribute to a colleague who crashed a vintage plane into the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey by performing an aerial salute over the aviation museum where the plane was based.

The ceremony honoring pilot William Gordon took place Saturday afternoon at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, New York.

Gordon's single-seat P-47 Thunderbolt crashed into the Hudson on Friday. Gordon's body was recovered late Friday and the plane was pulled out of the water Saturday.

American Airpower Museum board member Scott Clyman praised Gordon at the ceremony.

Clyman said the 56-year-old Gordon had long been fascinated by World War II planes and "he quickly demonstrated the skill to master these demanding aircraft."

He said Gordon's loss "is deeply felt beyond words."

Noon

Divers have retrieved the wreckage of a World War II plane that crashed into the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, killing the pilot.

The plane was pulled out of the water at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday by divers with the New York Police Department and the Army Corps of Engineers. It was being taken to a heliport in Manhattan. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will examine the aircraft as part of its investigation.

The single-seat P-47 Thunderbolt crashed at about 7:30 p.m. Friday. The body of pilot William Gordon was recovered hours later.

Gordon had 25 years of experience as an air show performer.

The plane was taking part in the American Airpower Museum's celebration of the P-47 Thunderbolt's 75th anniversary this weekend.

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9:30 a.m.

A veteran air show performer who died when a World War II plane crashed into the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey is being hailed as an "extraordinary pilot."

Scott Clyman of the American Airpower Museum said in a statement Saturday that Bill Gordon understood the "powerful message" that historic aircraft represent "in telling the story of American courage and valor."

Clyman says Gordon "was a nationally respected pilot."

Gordon's body was recovered hours after the vintage plane crashed on Friday.

Authorities are expected to work Saturday at lifting the single-seat plane, a P-47 Thunderbolt. The American Airpower Museum is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the P-47 Thunderbolt this weekend.

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8:15 a.m.

Officials are expected to begin the task of raising the wreckage of a vintage World War II plane that crashed into the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, killing the pilot.

Authorities are expected to work Saturday at lifting the single-seat plane, a P-47 Thunderbolt that crashed Friday. The American Airpower Museum is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the P-47 Thunderbolt this weekend.

New York police say that scuba divers recovered the body of the pilot, identified as 56-year-old William Gordon, of Key West, Florida, about three hours after the crash.

The P-47 was among three planes that had departed from Republic Airport in Farmingdale, on Long Island, just east of New York City. The other two aircraft returned to the airport and landed safely.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

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