Two people are dead and two are missing after a plane carrying a mega-mansion builder and his wife along with two others crashed off the coast of the Hamptons.

Ben Krupinski, 70, is one of the people who died in the tragic crash, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman confirmed to the East Hampton Patch.

Bonnie Krupinski, 70, and the couple's grandson, 22-year-old Will Maerov, were also on board.

The pilot flying the aircraft was Jon Kenneth Dollard, age 47, who is an instrument rated commercial flyer.

Krupinski, who has built and renovated homes for the likes of Martha Stewart and Billy Joel, and his wife Bonnie were on the private aircraft when it went down off Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett on Saturday afternoon.

The married couple, who are popular among residents of the affluent New York summer destination, were in a Piper PA31 Navajo aircraft when it crashed, according to 27 East, a local Hamptons news source.

Two people have been confirmed dead and two remain missing after a private plane owned by and carrying custom builder Ben Krupinski (left) and his wife, Bonnie (second from right) crashed on Saturday off the coast of the Hamptons into the Atlantic Ocean; Ben Krupinski has been identified as one of the people known to have died in the crash

The aircraft was about one mile away from the airport when it lost contact with the East Hampton Tower, the East Hampton Police Department said.

The Coast Guard found two bodies and are desperately searching for two more that are missing in the surrounding water.

A New York Times article from 1992 called the area 'Krupinskiland,' and described it as containing 'sprawling houses with attitude that look as if they are sprawled out on lounge chairs with a masseuse and a pina colada.'

In the article, Martha Stewart is mentioned twice, first for having Krupinski on a job at that time, and secondly in a quote calling the builder, 'Extraordinary!' in reference to his sense of perfection while renovating Stewart's 24-room home.

In the same write-up, advertising executive and client-turned-friend Jerry Della Femina says, 'In East Hampton, Ben's the star.'

Ben Krupinski (right) renovated Martha Stewart's (left) home in The Hamptons. She called the builder 'extraordinary' in a New York Times article in 1992

He added: 'You walk into a restaurant and everyone's looking up and saying, "It's Ben! It's Ben Krupinski!'

The late Mr Krupinski’s work with celebrity chef and lifestyle expert Stewart did raise questions, but they were never proven.

Stewart's reps strongly denied accusations from Mr Krupinki's daughter, Laura, published in The New York Post that they had an affair, and insisted that they were just close friends.

Laura was suspicious when she saw them getting close in Palm Beach during a vacation, where the Krupinski's own a home.

She told the New York Post's Page Six in September of 2013 that her allegations damaged the relationship with her family.

She claims her father cut her off from her $26,000 monthly allowance, her mother refused to speak to her, and the two of them kicked her out of her Bedford home after making the claims.

While building homes for the rich and famous, Mr Krupinski became a central figure in the Hamptons.

'I'm devastated,' Schneiderman said, of the loss of his friend of more than 20 years. 'This is a devastating loss for the East End.'

Ben Krupinski made a name for himself building and renovating homes for A-listers

This three-story retreat is one of the many homes that Krupinski worked on in East Hampton

Stewart is quoted as calling calling the builder, 'Extraordinary!' in reference to his sense of perfection while renovating her 24-room home in the Hamptons, shown here in a 2009 photo

Another luxurious mansion that Krupinski worked on is shown here, with a wrap-around porch

In addition to Mr Krupinski's building business, the family owns dozens of commercial real estate properties in both East Hampton and Southampton.

Their three restaurants in East Hampton include the 1770 House on Main Street, Cittanuova on Newtown Lane, and the restaurant, hotel, marina complex East Hampton Point on Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Road.

Ms Krupinski's family, the Bistrians (who are one of the largest landowners in East Hampton Town, co-own the exclusive East Hampton Gold Club with Ben and Bonnie.

The couple were also known to be very philanthropic in the Hamptons.

Mr Krupinski had often anonymously supported local charities throughout East Hampton Town, and had on several occassions volunteered his work force for pro bono construction. Two instances of which included the historic restoration ofScoville Hall in Amagansett and the Amagansett Life-Saving Station.

The couple's good works earned them the title of East Hampton Lions Club Citizens of the Year in May 2017, an honor bestowed upon them by the East End community.

'I'm speechless,' Schneiderman said. 'They were so incredibly generous.'

Former East Hampton Town board member Diana Weir said, 'They are an integral part of the East Hampton community — one of the most distinguished local families.'

The long-time friend of the couple added, 'I am crushed. They were very good to me and all local charities.'

Of Bonnie, specifically, Weir recalled how she dedicated her to life to giving back to the communtiy with her 'tremendous business acumen serving on various boards. I am heartbroken.'

It's not yet known which of the passengers' bodies have been found, besides that of Mr Krupinski. Schneiderman could not confirm whether Ms Krupinski had survived the crash.

This modern home is another piece of property credited to the beloved Ben Krupinski

Two people have been confirmed dead and two remain missing, after a plane crash on Saturday off the coast of the Hamptons in the Atlantic Ocean, which is the area seen here

The first victim who was confirmed dead was found by East Hampton Lifeguards on the beach, Ryan O'Hare of Coast Guard Station Montauk said.

Coast Guard Cutter Bonito recovered a second body from the water near the crash site, as officials continue to search for the other two passengers.

It's not clear which of these bodies belonged to Mr Krupinski.

'We are stricken by this loss,' Captain Kevin Reed, a commander at Sector Long Island Sound, said in a press release. 'Our deepest sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of the two recovered individuals.'

The crash occurred at around 2.50pm Eastern on Saturday.

Crews aboard two commercial fishing boats in the area were asked to join in the search by authorities, according to Newsday.

The cause of the crash has yet to be determined, but O'Hare noted that the plane went down around the same time that thunderstorms entered the area.

Bonnie Brady, the wife of Dave Aripotch, the owner of a commercial 63-foot fishing trawler who has been searching for the remaining passengers, also said her husband called her after a 'torrential downpour' hit the area where he had been fishing.

Aripotch was four miles away from the crash site when he received a pan-pan emergency signal from the US Coast Guard, which alerted him that an aircraft had come down in the area.

He immediately began aiding in the search near Indian Wells Beach, his wife said.

Members of the New York State park police are seen here near the scene of the plane crash in the ocean off Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett, New York on Saturday

The aircraft went down about one mile off the shore of Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate, along with local authorities, and the NTSB will determine the cause of the crash.

Units responding to the call put in to Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound included the United States Coast Guard, the Air National Guard, East Hampton Town police dive team, and the East Hampton Ocean Rescue Squad.

Beaches from East Hampton Main Beach to Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett have been closed to the public while the rescue effort continues.

Anyone with information regarding the crash is encouraged to contact the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound command center at 203-468-4401 or on the radio at VHF-FM marine radio channel-16.