Upper East Side Dentist Dies In Colorado Plane Crash

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — An oral surgeon who practiced on the Upper East Side was killed Saturday in a private plane crash in Colorado, authorities said.

Ruben Cohen, a doctor at Park Smiles, died Saturday along with aviator David Zara when their small plane crashed in the mountains outside Aspen, about 14 minutes after taking off en route to Des Moines, Iowa.

Cohen's death was announced by local authorities, as well as by his practice on Park Avenue near East 93rd Street, which informed patients in an email Tuesday morning.

"It is with much sadness that we write this letter to let you know that Dr. Ruben Cohen was tragically killed in a plane accident over the weekend," the office wrote. "We will all feel his loss."

Cohen was himself a licensed pilot, and owned the Long Island-based company LEC Aviation, LLC, according to the Aspen Times. The Hawker Beechcraft G36 Bonanza aircraft was reportedly registered to his company.

Cohen lived on the Upper East Side, while Zara was also a New Yorker, calling the Upper West Side home, according to the Daily News.

Cohen was born in France and raised in Paris, and devoted significant time to volunteer medical work, which took him to "towns and villages in Asia, Africa and Central America" as well as Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, according to his online profile. He also volunteered in rescue work at Ground Zero after 9/11.

"I’ve been very fortunate to have an excellent education, but it’s the volunteer work and community involvement that have made the most impact in giving me a strong sense of empathy and compassion," Cohen wrote.

Cohen's and Zara's bodies were both recovered by rescue workers on Sunday. The cause of the crash is now being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, the Aspen Times reported.