Posted on 10/11/2006 1:51:24 PM PDT by Irontank
small plane crashed into a 50-story luxury high-rise building on Manhattan's Upper East Side Wednesday, igniting a raging fire, killing at least two and initially trapping people on the floors above the point of impact.
New York Police Department officials said two were confirmed dead and there could be more fatalities.
The plane hit the building, located at 524 East 72nd Street, 20 floors above space occupied by the Hospital for Special Surgery.
The New York Fire Department told FOX News that there were people trapped above the point of impact, but the NYPD later said that all occupants located above the fire-ravaged floors had been evacuated.
By 3:30 p.m. ET, the blaze was reported to have been extinguished.
FBI spokeswoman Christine Monaco said there was no indication the crash — which happened five years and one month after Sept. 11, 2001 — was a terrorist attack, but 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. Fighter jets, however, were scrambled and were patrolling the skies above major cities as a precaution, according to Defense Department officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
ooops, that should have been 'second pieces of ID'.
Yes I am an ass (you have no idea), that I`ll agree with, but I do know the circumstances and disagree with you there... His instructor brought him up and let him fly even though the guy has only been flying for less than a year, had less than 100 hours flying time, had no instrument rating, and was brought up in inclimate weather and in an area of the east river that is so narrow you could literally see what people are doing on the other side. That his instructor should risk this in such a heavily populated area not only makes him a selfish arse but the pilot as well. THere was absolutely no reason for them to take such a risk, I mean it`s like flying through a narrow gulley in the Grand Canyon, the only difference being that their are 1000`s of people inside it. What if he missed that building and crashed into the street killing thousands of people, would you be so defensive of him? This is just one more example of idiots being allowed to risk the lives of others for their own monetary gain or amusement. There is no difference between this and allowing someone who has just learned to drive to go 100 mph down 5th avenue during the Christmas season. THat whole area along the east side is probably one of the most heavily populated areas in the world, if you don`t believe me take a look on Google earth, yet this overpaid a-holes amusement was more important. In any case, Darwin has taken over and the people of NYC won`t have that risk thrown over their heads again.
Hey, how about them Tigers?
Wow, that's weird. I wonder what happened with the plane? Mechanical or electrical problem? I guess we'll have to find out later.
Dear, you are being a bit dramatic. That plane couldn't kill 3,000 people even if it crashed into a sports arena. The man was on his way back to California and wanted to see NYC one last time before heading back. It wasn't intentional and we don't have any facts to determine what happened or if it was wreckless. Sh-t happens. Just leave it at that and relax.
He is a recreational pilot?! Makes your previous post even more idiotic.
He was probably going to California for a while. Maybe they were going to vacation overseas at some point while on the off season. I don't see that much unusual about it actually.
The Plane crash is Bush's fault according to the Democrat controlled Media and Elected Officials.
It could be two, I hope so. Originally, they were reporting four.
Good God man, you really are a clueless F. up, just stop talking, you're in a hole and you know it and the best thing to do is just shut the hell up.
(Remark said before Lidle's death)
I would imagine it is quietly done, the way it should be when you are "checking" something out. Small planes are at small airports and their personnel would know their regular fliers. I doubt hundreds of terrorists could slip through the scrutiny of the smaller airports. There's always a chance of a margin of error, but I can't imagine that many suspicious pilots being ignored after 9/11.
If the flight instructor was with him for the cross-country flight, that showed good judgment on Lidle's part. Lidle's qualifications become less important if a CFI is on board with him. The CFI would become legally responsible for the flight in terms of having the higher ratings and they may have planned to log the hours as dual instruction. A flight instructor must have a commercial certificate, and must be instrument rated, for just this reason.
Pilots leaving the tri-state area are certainly allowed to do a little sightseeing on their way out of the area. The Statue of Liberty is a spectacular sight from the air, and I got to see it from the back seat of a four-seat plane back in the early 80s.
One of the aviation lists I subscribe to had this about the 180-degree turn. It looks like there is an issue with the VFR routes in that area. Quoted below:
***
FWIW, check out the chart -- the exclusion (1100 feet and below) on the East (not Hudson) river dead ends, requiring a 180. See it here:
http://skyvector.com/
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Comments, HairoftheDof?
I remember it well Charles.
I'm pleased that your husband flies. I stand by my statement, not as a personal insult to you, but as my observation that Freepers occasionally have a blind spot when it comes to aviation. I know we'll disagree, but ask you to consider that.
Sheesh, the guy just died and you're calling him an "a-hole" -- not to mention your little class warfare or anti free-market "overpayed" comment thrown in.
BTW, more people die from cab drivers in Manhatten then they do from planes flying up the east river.
The flight from NY to SoCal is a 15-hour flight in that plane. It's a two- to three-day trip. I can't imagine that with the cost of fuel (topping $4.00/gallon and probably more at Teterboro), they would just bop around and land there again. It would make sense for them to look at the sights on the way out before heading west.
But if there's a source somewhere saying that they planned to bop around today, land, and head out again tomorrow, I'll happily stand corrected.
Are you always such a know it all?
That's pretty close to the "when did you stop beating your wife?" trap. I won't bite. I don't pretend to know it all, but I do know a few things about aviation. But not nearly as much as many other Freepers who also fly, who instruct, and who have served our country in the air. Have a good day.
I don't have a real substantial comment, because while I've seen that this accident happened today, I really don't know the details or the area. It's just a real shame when things go bad...
Thanks. I saw this on the Beech owners list, and am quoting the message without the poster's name. I think it's interesting, and perhaps a factor... I have only been a backseat passenger in and around the NYC area, and that was a long time ago.
***
FWIW, check out the chart -- the exclusion (1100 feet and below) on the East (not Hudson) river dead ends, requiring a 180. See it here:
http://skyvector.com/
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