The family of the man who died in Thursday's plane crash on I-684 on the Westchester and Connecticut border says they are devastated and heartbroken. Yankele Friedman, 32, has been identified by authorities as the passenger on the plane. News 12 talked with his brother and two cousins.
They said his death hasn't set in yet, and that they lost one of the best people they knew. "We're all feeling broken. It's hard to imagine him not being here," says Joshua Friedmann, his brother. "He was just in my house the other day, cleaned the dishes for my wife because he came in and saw that she was overwhelmed with the dishes." Yankele Friedman’s family described him as caring, selfless and the kindest person they knew. They say his loss is going to be felt so deeply not only in their family but in the community. “He had the most empathy in my family by far combined. Everyone knew him as the most empathetic person," says Joshua Friedmann.
“We had just so much fun together. Only have good memories and he’s always going to have a special place in my heart,” says Hershy Friedman, his cousin. Joshua Friedmann, his brother says Yankele was the oldest of 12 and had a 13-year-old son. His brother and cousins say they've looked up to him their whole lives. “He was always the one forging ahead in the family, leading the path and he was a great role model and example," says Joshua Friedmann.
Yankele was a pilot and flight instructor for years. “He was very popular in the Jewish community to give pilot lessons for two reasons," says Yhoshua Friedmann, his cousin. "One, because he was great at it, very cautious, very professional, and second, he had the easiest attitude in the world to work with” Connecticut State Police say Friedman was the passenger on the plane.
Joshua Friedmann says his brother and the pilot, Kalmen Goldberger, 26, knew each other well. His family says they will continue to remember and honor his legacy. They plan to do everything they can to keep his memory alive. "
