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Homeland Security, Ambulances, cops all over the ground.
Aerial view of building (NOT RECENT)
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v...ed%20States___
Homeland Security, Ambulances, cops all over the ground.
reported, 3 apartments affected.
Apparently, hospitals are very nearby so that's good.
HazMat tape across the scene - Fox News NYC.
New York Times
Small Aircraft Hits Building in Manhattan
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK (AP) -- A small plane crashed into a high-rise on the Upper East Side, raining down debris on Manhattan and unleashing what witnesses reported was a gigantic fireball, police said.
The aircraft struck the 20th floor of a building on East 72nd Street, said Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi. Witnesses said the crash caused a loud noise, and burning and falling debris was seen. Flames were seen shooting out of the windows.
"There's huge pieces of debris falling," said one witness who refused to give her full name. "There's so much falling now, I've got to get away."
The Federal Aviation Administration said it was too early to determine what type of aircraft was involved, or what might have caused the crash in the middle of a hazy October afternoon.
Witness Sarah Steiner, who lives one block away, told CNN that "The fire was raging out of two windows on approximately the 30th floor. ... They are evacuating the building."
Whether anyone was injured was not known, and it was unclear if the crash was an act of terrorism. Firefighters rushed to the scene.
The address of the building is 524 E. 72nd Street -- a 50-story condominium tower built in the late 1980s and located near Sotheby's Auction House. The Belaire Condo, developed by William Zeckendorf Jr., has 183 apartments, many of which sell for more than $1 million.
FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force responding to the scene, but no reason to suspect terrorism at this time.
FOX
Is Bill Hemmer walking his dog?
Any confirmation whether it is a helicopter or small airplane?
NORAD dispatching fighter planes over major U.S. cities.
CNN.
...
NORAD has decided to put fighter aircraft over several large U.S. cities
-CNN
FAA, eyewitnesses say airplane.
4 alarm fire.
168 firefighters on scene.
-CNN
On the 11th, no less. Prayers to all involved, hope this is simply an accident.
2 bodies (1 in wreckage, 1 on ground).
Plane made radical turn at about 800 feet.
CNN is saying only 1 confirmed dead.
Aircraft hits Manhattan building; 2 dead By COLEEN LONG, Associated Press Writer
5 minutes ago
NEW YORK - A small plane crashed into an Upper East Side high-rise Wednesday, shooting flames out the windows, raining debris on the sidewalks below and rattling New Yorkers' nerves exactly one month after the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. Police confirmed 2 people are dead.
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Christine Monaco, a New York spokeswoman for FBI, said there was no indication of terrorism, but that officials "have been sent to the scene as a routine." FAA spokesman Jim Peters said all three New York City-area airports were operating normally.
"The initial indication is that there is a terrible accident," said Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke.
Nevertheless, fighter jets were scrambled over U.S. cities as a precaution, the Pentagon said.
The aircraft struck the 20th floor of a building on East 72nd Street, said Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi. Witnesses said the crash caused a loud noise, and flames were seen shooting out of the windows.
"It's a mob scene with police and helicopters circling," said Sandy Teller, watching from his apartment a block away. "There's a dozen ambulances and lots of firefighters waiting on 72nd, on the corner. There's lots of stretchers ready, gurneys. And lots of emergency people waiting."
The crash struck fear in a city devastated by the attacks of Sept. 11 five years ago. Witnesses said sirens echoed across the east side of Manhattan as emergency workers rushed to the scene. The crash triggered a loud bang. Broken glass and debris was strewn around the neighborhood.
"There's a sense of helplessness," Teller said. "Cots and gurneys, waiting. It's a mess."
The Federal Aviation Administration said it was too early to determine what type of aircraft was involved, or what might have caused the crash in the middle of a hazy October afternoon.
Richard Drutman, a professional photographer who lives on the building's 11th floor, said he was speaking on the telephone when he felt the building shake.
"There was a huge explosion. I looked out my window, and saw what appeared to be pieces of wings, on fire, falling from the sky," Drutman said.
He and his girlfriend quickly evacuated the building.
The address of the building is 524 E. 72nd Street — a 50-story condominium tower built in the late 1980s and located near Sotheby's auction house. The Belaire Condo, developed by William Zeckendorf Jr., has 183 apartments, many of which sell for more than $1 million.
Several lower floors of the building are occupied by doctors and administrative offices, as well as guest facilities for family members of patients at the Hospital for Special Surgery, hospital spokeswoman Phyllis Fisher said. No patients were in the high-rise building and operations at the hospital a block away weren't affected, Fisher said. The Hospital for Special Surgery specializes in orthopedic operations.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061011/...an_plane_crash
I don't buy this accident . The plane hit the 20th floor of a 50 story building dead-on -not a corner. Add to it that it's a month to the day after the 9-11 5th anniversary.
edit: and duh, it happened in NYC, not Tulsa or Toledo.
I have to agree with you at first glance. I don't see how somebody flies a plane into the side of a high-rise by accident. I hope I'm wrong, but it sure seems fishy.
Im sure they are already on Ebay selling like hotcakes.
Small Aircraft Crashes Into New York City High-Rise Building
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
NEW YORK — A small aircraft crashed into a high-rise building on Manhattan's Upper East Side Wednesday, igniting a raging fire, killing at least two and trapping people on the floors above the point of impact.
New York Police Department officials said two were confirmed dead and there could be more fatalities. The New York Fire Department told FOX News that there were people trapped inside the building on floors above where the fire broke out.
The Federal Aviation Administration said that the small aircraft was fixed wing, but earlier reports indicated that it may have been a small helicopter.
FBI spokeswoman Christine Monaco said there was no indication the crash — which happened five years and one month after Sept. 11, 2001 — was a terrorist attack, but officials "have been sent to the scene as a routine."
"The initial indication is that there is a terrible accident," said Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke.
FAA spokesman Jim Peters initially said that all three New York City-area airports were operating normally, but LaGuardia International Airport later reported gate hold and taxi delays of between 31 and 45 minutes in length that were increasing.
LaGuardia arrival traffic had airborne delays of 15 minutes or less, according to the airport.
Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi said the aircraft struck the 20th floor of the building, located at 524 East 72nd Street.
The crash set off a raging fire that sent a pillar of gray smoke over the city, police said. Witnesses reported seeing a gigantic fireball come out of the building, according to authorities.
Flames could be seen shooting from windows on two or three upper floors of the 50-story building, near the East River. Burning debris rained down onto the street below.
"There's huge pieces of debris falling," said one witness who refused to give her full name. "There's so much falling now, I've got to get away."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg went to the site, where parts of the fuselage were falling to the ground.
There were dozens of firefighters, emergency workers and other first responders on the scene. Fighter jets were patrolling the skies as a precaution.
FAA spokeswoman Diane Spitaliere said that a small, fixed-wing aircraft was involved, but there was very little other information immediately available. A helicopter would be expected in that area of the city; no other aircraft should be around that part of Manhattan, according to the FAA.
"Everyone was running down the street, kids were screaming and crying," Rich Behar, a New York City resident and former Time magazine reporter, told FOX News. "There was a lot of horror and terror when it hit," Behar added, saying the whole ordeal reminded him of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
As of 3:25 p.m. ET, the incident had not affected flights coming in or out of the New York area.
The building is a 50-story condominium tower built in 1986 and located nearby Sotheby's Auction House. It has 183 apartments, many of which sell for more than $1 million.
A spokesman for the National Transportation Security Board said that agency is organizing a team to send to New York to investigate the crash.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Accidents happen. I have intentionally stalled airplanes and sailplanes for practice/fun and they are basically uncontrollable till you get enough airflow and lift re-established. A major cause of small plane accidents are unintentional stalls...both low speed and high speed stalls...Where that plane was he wouldn't have any choice BUT to hit a building if he screwed up...and mistakes/mechanical failures do happen...don't automatically assume it was terrorists.
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