Plane piloted by Indian students makes unexpected landing at US airport

Rochester, NY: A private plane carrying two flight students from Canada landed safely at the Greater Rochester International Airport last night without notifying air traffic controllers or airport officials.
The small plane, a Cessna 152, landed on the airport’s midsized runway just before 9:30 p.m., said airport director David Damelio. No one was injured.
Cpl. John Helfer of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said the two occupants — both flight students at the Island Air Flight School in Toronto, Canada — decided to land in Rochester because they were low on fuel.
Authorities did not release their names, but Kevin Corsaro of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in Buffalo said both men were Indian citizens with “lawful status” in Canada. Both men are in their 20s, he said.
The flight school is based out of the Toronto City Centre Airport.
The men apparently became disoriented while in the air and flew off course, into the United States, said Corsaro .
The plane had refueled in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, just before 9 p.m., and was headed for Toronto before the unscheduled landing in Rochester, Helfer said. Damelio said the men “had very little fuel left” when they landed.
Helfer said the pilot was certified for night flight.
The men were questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials, Monroe County sheriff’s deputies and other authorities and were released, Damelio said.
Both men traveled back to Canada today.
Damelio said authorities are investigating the incident today. Helfer said the men are not facing any state or federal charges at this time.
15/09/10 Victoria E. Freile/ROC now, US