Funeral held for first victim of Westchester plane crash

On Friday night, people packed into a chapel in Cleveland to mourn one of the men who died in the Westchester County plane crash.

The coroner’s office worked overnight so that the bodies of pilot Borch Taub and passenger Binjamin Chaffetz could be immediately sent to Cleveland for burial, in accordance with Orthodox Jewish tradition.

Chaffetz, a prominent member of the Cleveland Orthodox community, was buried in Ohio on Friday.

News 12 has learned that he spent the last few minutes of his life sending messages to his wife saying, “I love you and the kids.”

The two men took off from JFK International Airport on Thursday night on their way home.

About 30 minutes after takeoff, Taub reported an engine oil problem and the plane began to lose altitude.

From radio communications, News 12 learned that Taub had time to land safely, but was unable to do so.

He crashed at Louden Point, just two miles from the runway to which he was directed.

Hundreds of first responders spent about five hours searching for the plane in terrible weather.

It was discovered after the FBI pinged Chafetz and Taub’s cell phones.

Authorities said the plane was badly damaged with parts hanging from trees. A body was found on the ground.

Chaffetz’s funeral was a standing-only funeral, as many wanted to say goodbye.

His brother spoke during the service. “Benjamin, if I have wronged you, please forgive me. I know you will…for those of us in Shamayim,” he said.

Shamayim means Heaven in Hebrew.

Taub will be buried on Sunday.

The crash site is now closed. With NTSB agents working in the area, the plane is likely to be there by the end of the week.