ADN

The Associated Press
NEW YORK - A small aircraft crashed into a high-rise on the Upper East Side, setting off a fire and startling New Yorkers, police said. There were conflicting reports on whether the aircraft was a small plane or a helicopter.

Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi said an aircraft struck struck the 20th floor of a building on East 72nd Street. Witnesses said the crash caused a loud noise, and burning and falling debris was seen. Flames were seen shooting out of the windows. Video from the scene showed at least three apartments in the high rise fully engulfed in flames.

"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."

Whether anyone was injured was not known, and it was unclear if the crash was an act of terrorism.

The address of the building is 524 E. 72nd Street ¢¢¬¢‚¬ 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.

Local pilot. Do we have a bet?

I read the report on CNN and they say it might be an accident, but how to do accidentally hit a huge apartment building like that?

50 story building and they hit at the 20th? that's flyin' low....

I'm now hearing on CNN that the pilot of the plane was Cory Lidle, pitcher for the New York Yankees

YUP, TRASH, AND THEY JUST SAID HE DIED.

Yanks pitcher dies as his plane crashes into building
amNewYork and Newsday
STAFF WRITERS

October 11, 2006, 4:56 PM EDT


Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle reportedly was one of at least two people killed when a plane he was piloting slammed into a high-rise residential building on the Upper East Side shortly before 3 p.m., officials said.

The police department confirmed that two people were killed, and there were no immediate reports of injuries when the four-seater plane crashed into the 50-story luxury apartment building.

There is no evidence that terrorism is invovled, but officials "have been sent to the scene as a routine," said Christine Monaco, a New York spokeswoman for FBI. FAA spokesman Jim Peters said all three New York City-area airports were operating normally, but LaGuardia is reporting 30-40 minute delays.

"The initial indication is that there is a terrible accident," said Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke.

Minutes before the crash, witnesses said the craft was flying erratically. Initial reports indicate that Lidle owns the Cirrus SR20, which took off from New Jersey's Teterboro Airport at about 2:30 p.m., and that he was the only person aboard the plane. His passport was found on the street.

"I saw a helicopter in flames bounce off the building. It was in flames. It felt like a rocket ... All of a sudden, it fell," said Doris Light.

The crash shattered the usual afternoon routine of the residents in this tony neighborhood near the East River and triggered memories of Sept. 11, 2001, when two commercial jets were crashed into the Twin Towers in an act of terrorism.

"It was a shock, I'm still shaking from it," Light said of today's crash. "I just saw a ball of flame and out of that ball of flame was a ... a... I'm just so scared."

Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi said the aircraft hit the 20th floor of the building near York Avenue. Flames could be seen shooting from windows. Burning debris fell from the tower, and a column of gray smoke rose over the city.

Alex Behring, who lives on the 34th floor of the Belaire building at 524 E. 72nd Street, said he rushed home from work when he heard news of the crash. His 2-year-old daughter Isabell was in the apartment with her babysitter.

"The Nanny got Isabell and rushed her to the elevator," he said as he carried his daughter from the scene. "There was a ball of fire and smoke in the building. They were lucky to get down."

The NYPD said there was no indication from defense department officials that any suspicious aircraft were in the area. However, as a precautionary measure, NORAD has ordered fighter aircraft to patrol U.S. cities.

Vesna Badzek, 55, was walking her dog near the Belaire when the craft hit. "It was a big impact, a boom. Then I saw a big fire and then smaller ones." At that point, she said she ran and yelled for someone to call 911.

"A customer said, 'Look at that' and then I just saw the fire in the middle of the building," said fruit-seller Ahmed Nur, 31, whose stand is located at the corner of 72nd and York. Minutes later, police arrived.

Within minutes of the crash the streets were filled with dozens of fire trucks, police cars and other emergency vehicles . Crowds gathered at police barriers set up at First and York avenues, straining to see the crash. Many people snapped photos with their cellphones.

At a school at 74th Street and York Avenue, worried parents hustled their children out of the building.

Apartments across the street from the crash shook when the aircraft stuck.

"I heard a buzzing noise that rattled the apartment a little and, next thing, I heard a loud crash," said Marvel Scott, 33. "I turned immediately to look out the window and saw a large mushroom cloud, like a big fireball emanating out of the building. Instantly, massive flames were billowing outside the building."

Mayor Bloomberg went to the site, where parts of the fuselage fell to the ground.

The Belaire building was built in 1986 and is located nearby Sotheby's Auction House. It has 183 apartments, many of which sell for more than $1 million.

Sara Stefanini a freelancer reporter and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

The city medical examiner's office now confirms 4 deaths.

Still no reports available on injured....

I wonder how they haven't marked some of these areas as being no fly zones...They hell was he doing flying that low I wonder...