A single-engine plane crashed onto New York Interstate 684 this week after the pilot reported technical trouble. The sole passenger died, while the pilot was injured.

The plane was flying from Linden, New Jersey, to Westchester County Airport near White Plains, New York. The pilot tried to land at the airport but crashed onto the median on I-684 at 6:35 p.m. Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement to New Jersey’s News 12.

Pilot Kalmen Goldberger, 26, of Linden suffered minor injuries and was treated at the hospital. Passenger Yaakov Friedman, 32, of Monsey, New York, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to local newspaper The Journal News. There were no injuries on the ground.

In addition to working at Fireside Kosher restaurant in Monsey, Mr. Friedman was a flight instructor, working specifically with people who spoke Yiddish.

“He loved to take people flying. He would take everybody flying, close friends, everybody. He was [an] extremely, extremely cautious pilot. Always used to explain everything and go over every single detail on how many extra steps he would take about being cautious,” his brother Joshua Friedman told New York’s WCBS-TV.

I-684 was temporarily closed while the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation worked to clean up a gas spill from the crash, Gov. Kathy Hochul explained on X.

“Our hearts are with the loved ones of those on board,” Ms. Hochul wrote.

A funeral service was held for Mr. Friedman Friday. He will be buried in Israel, according to the Monsey Scoop.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.