Lake Mohegan Fire Chief: Volunteer's Voice 'Heard Across the Country'

Quick-thinking county police Communications Operator Melissa Seymour, who is also the Mohegan Volunteer Ambulance Corps Assistant Chief, has been praised for the sound and life-saving advice she gave to the pilot of plane that crashed last month in the Hudson River.

During the annual awards dinner for the Lake Mohegan Fire Department on Saturday, Fire Chief Brian Wolert also praised Seymour and presented her with a plaque for the "fine job" done.

"She was calm, cool, collected, did her job to the best of her ability," Wolert said. "I would be remiss if I didn't recognize Melissa [Seymour] for the fine job that she did."

Seymour answered the desperate 911 call for help of the two people aboard of a small plane that crashed in the Hudson River on Jan. 27. As the river water was flooding into the cockpit, Seymour advised the pilot and his passenger to locate the floatation devices aboard the plane and get out the aircraft.

The call was received at the New York State Transportation Management Center and a dispatcher there transferred the call to the county police.

     "Sir, are you still in the plane," Seymour asked the caller.

     "We are still in the plane. The plane is taking on water," the caller responds.

     "Is it possible for you to get out?"

     "We can get out if we have to."

     "I need you to get out," Seymour advised him. "Get out of the plane."

The pair entered the water and the plane sank soon after. Yonkers police rescued them from the river.

The 911 call was broadcast by various local and national media outlets. Click here to hear the call.

The plaque, which Lake Mohegan Fire Chief presented to the local volunteer and quick-thinking police dispatcher read: "'I need you to get out of the plane' was heard across the country."

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