United plane crashes in Pennsylvania

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — A United Airlines plane crashed this morning just north of the Somerset County Airport, the airline said.

Flight 93 crashed about 10 a.m. about 8 miles east of Jennerstown, according to county 911 dispatchers, WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh reported. It crashed near the Somerset County Airport, a small, rural facility about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

"It shook the whole station," said Bruce Grine, owner of Grine's Service Center in Shanksville, about 2 1/2 miles from the crash. "Everybody ran outside, and by that time the fire whistle was blowing."

In Chicago, United CEO James Goodwin said the airline is working with authorities including the FBI. United said it was sending a team to Johnstown, Pa., to assist in the investigation and to provide assistance to family members.

"Today's events are a tragedy and our prayers are with everyone at this time," Goodwin, said.

United said it was also "deeply concerned" about another flight, Flight 175, a Boeing 767, which was bound from Boston to Los Angeles.

On behalf of the airline CEO James Goodwin said: "The thoughts of everyone at United are with the passengers and crew of these flights. Our prayers are also with everyone on the ground who may have been involved"

"United is working with all the relevant authorities, including the FBI, to obtain further information on these flights," he said.

The Somerset County airport does not handle large aircraft.

Because of attacks today at New York's World Trade Center, the Federal Aviation Administration had ordered all departing flights canceled nationwide, and any planes already in the air were to land a the nearest airport. The plane crashed shortly after the order was issued.

Earlier today, terrorists crashed two planes into the World Trade Center and the twin 110-story towers collapsed. A plane also hit the Pentagon in Washington.