Search fails to find body of Queens man presumed killed in crash

Friends and family unsuccessfully searched the shores of Setauket Harbor on Sunday for the body of a Queens man missing since a plane crashed two weeks ago.

“We’re determined to find him and bring him home,” said Alex Chunga, a friend and fraternity brother of Gerson Salmon-Negron, in a telephone interview.

More than 15 people met at Port Jefferson Marina before 2:30 p.m. to search the land at low tide. Police boats also searched the harbor as they have every day since the plane crash, a police spokeswoman said.

Salmon-Negron, a 23-year-old from Elmhurst, was aboard a single-engine, four-seat Piper Archer plane returning to Republic Airport in East Farmingdale from a trip to Massachusetts when it crashed into the water just after 11 p.m. Feb. 20.

Family and friends have been looking for Salmon-Negron since the crash.

Three other passengers were rescued by Suffolk police and fire department personnel.

Police said they would determine whether to resume the search Monday morning based on other calls for service, resources and the weather.

By David M. Schwartz

dschwar1@newsday.comschwartznewsNY

David Schwartz covers environmental issues. A native Long Islander, he's worked at Newsday since 2013.