Crow 492
10-12-2006, 08:03 AM
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.
Local news reports quoted New York Fire Department officials as saying that two were confirmed dead. The FDNY 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 was a terrorist attack but that 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 upper floors of the 50-story building, near the East River. Burning debris fell from the tower, and a column of gray smoke rose over the city.
"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."
There were dozens of firefighters, emergency workers and other first responders on the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration was handling reaction to the incident. FAA spokeswoman Diane Spitaliere said that a small, fixed-wing aircraft was involved, but there was very little other information collected so far. A helicopter would be expected in that area of the city; no other aircraft should be around that part of Manhattan, the FAA said.
"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.
Story Highlights
• Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and flight instructor killed in crash
• 16 people, including 11 firefighters, received minor injuries
• Few people at home when plane struck building, mayor says
• Government sources said pilot reported fuel trouble
Local news reports quoted New York Fire Department officials as saying that two were confirmed dead. The FDNY 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 was a terrorist attack but that 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 upper floors of the 50-story building, near the East River. Burning debris fell from the tower, and a column of gray smoke rose over the city.
"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."
There were dozens of firefighters, emergency workers and other first responders on the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration was handling reaction to the incident. FAA spokeswoman Diane Spitaliere said that a small, fixed-wing aircraft was involved, but there was very little other information collected so far. A helicopter would be expected in that area of the city; no other aircraft should be around that part of Manhattan, the FAA said.
"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.
Story Highlights
• Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and flight instructor killed in crash
• 16 people, including 11 firefighters, received minor injuries
• Few people at home when plane struck building, mayor says
• Government sources said pilot reported fuel trouble