Service held for the first victims of the Westchester plane crash

One of the men who died in the Westchester plane crash on Thursday has been laid to rest.

The coroner’s office worked through the night so that the bodies of the pilot and passengers could be immediately sent to Cleveland for burial, in accordance with Orthodox Jewish tradition.

Passenger Binyamin Chafetz, CEO of website design firm 121 E-Commerce, was buried in Ohio on Friday.

Chaffetz was described as “peppy” with a big heart. 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.”

Pilot Boruch Taub owned Masterworks Automotive and Transmission in the Cleveland area.

The two men took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport on Thursday night and headed for a regional airport outside Cleveland, Ohio.

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 about 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.

Chaffetz’s funeral was standing. 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.