Posted at 9:33 a.m., Wednesday, October 11, 2006
FBI: Terrorism not indicated in N.Y. plane crash
Associated Press
NEW YORK — An FBI spokeswoman says there is no indication of terrorism in the crash of an aircraft into a Manhattan apartment building.
A small plane crashed into a high-rise condominium today on Manhattan's Upper East Side, touching off a raging fire and raining flaming debris on the streets below, police said. There was no immediate word on any deaths or injuries.
Flames shot from the windows on two upper floors of The Belaire, a 50-story tower on East 72nd Street, close to the East River. A pillar of black smoke rose over the city, and burning debris fell as firefighters shot water streams of water at the flames from the floors below.
Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi said the aircraft struck the 20th floor.
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, overcast October afternoon.
The tower was built in the late 1980s and is situated near Sotheby's Auction House. It has 183 apartments, many of which sell for more than $1 million.
