plane crashed into a high-rise on NYC upper east side

[Lisa B]

BREAKING NEWS
NBC News and news services
Updated: 4 minutes ago
NEW YORK - A small plane crashed into a high-rise condominium Wednesday on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, touching off a raging fire that sent a pillar of black smoke over the city, police said. NBC's Pete Williams reported that 2 bodies were found, one in the wreckage and one on the ground.

There was no word on injuries. The blaze was extinguished in less than hour.

Williams reported that, according to New York investigators, the aircraft was flying at 800 feet when it made a radical turn and crashed.



There was no immediate word on whether residents were home at the time of the crash. Officials at the Federal Aviation Administration and the FBI said there was no reason to believe the incident was terrorism-related.

But a military official at NORAD said that as an extra measure of security, there were “numerous fighter jet patrols” over several U.S. cities.


Nevertheless, the crash at the Belaire, which overlooks the East River, struck fear in a city devastated by the attacks of Sept. 11 five years ago.

Sirens echoed across the neighborhood as emergency workers and ambulances rushed in with stretchers. Broken glass and debris were strewn around the neighborhood.

"There’s a sense of helplessness," said Sandy Teller, watching from his apartment a block away. "Cots and gurneys, waiting. It’s a mess."



The aircraft struck the 20th floor of the building on East 72nd Street, said Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi. Witnesses said the crash caused a loud noise. Flames were seen shooting out of the windows. Burning debris fell on the streets below as firefighters shot water streams of water at the flames from lower floors.

Video from the scene showed at least three floors in the high-rise engulfed in flames. A column of gray smoke rose over the city, and raging flames could be seen in four windows on two upper floors.

Unknown what type of aircraft involved
The FAA 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, overcast October afternoon.

NBC's Jay Blackman reported it was a fixed-wing aircraft operating under visual flight rules, which means the aircraft did not have to be in contact with air traffic controllers.




The crash occurred near the heliport on the East River, according to MSNBC cable. The building it hit, the Belaire Apartments, has 50 floors and is located in the Lenox Hill neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, according to the building’s Web site. Apartments occupy floors 22 through 50. According to NBC’s Robert Bazell, the Hospital for Special Surgery is on the lower floors.

The tower was built in the late 1980s and is near Sotheby’s Auction House. It has 183 apartments, many of which sell for more than $1 million.



This is right near the Animal Medical Center in New York City where my vets were located. I know the exact spot it happened....
Manhattan people...please check in!!!!

[NapoleonUWS]

This stuff is really scary... I live in Manhattan in a hi-rise building and one of my biggest fears is having something like that happen - knowing that my pets (two dogs and two p'lets) are at home without me to protect them... I have worried about that since 9/11... paralyzes me with fear...

I hope that everyone and their pets are okay in that building...

[FeatherLover]

It's not "officially" confirmed yet, but they think the pilot was Corey Lidle, pitcher for the NY Yankees.

[David S]

heard the same thing, Megan.......

[cpryslek]

the plane has been confirmed that it was his plane. it was on the world news tonight. there was 2 people in the plane. they are pretty sure that it was corey.as he got his pilots lic. about 8 mo. ago.

[David S]

CNN is reporting that it was Cory. Sad day for baseball and for all touched by 9/11.

[Luvmygrey]

Yes, very sad. He was so young.

[Tiki]

I saw that on the news. It must have scared the **** out of New Yorkers after 911. I'm glad it wasn't a terrorist but such a tragedy for the people killed.

[Doug W]

Just so sad. What a tragedy.

[Star]

I saw that on the news yesterday. It was so sad..I wonder what happened on that plane before it crashed. I was especially upset because he left behind a wife and a 6-year-old son.

It just goes to show ya, you never know what can happen.