WASHINGTON [MENL] -- A passenger jet has exploded and crashed into New York City, prompting the mayor to declare an alert.
Officials said the crash is not being regarded as a terrorist attack. The conclusion was announced by the National Transportation Safety Board. No group claimed immediate responsibility for the crash.
An American Airlines jet took off from Kennedy Airport and crashed about 15 kilometers away in the borough of Queens on Monday. The jet, with 255 passengers, slammed into a residential area and set nearly 20 buildings on fire.
New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani declared a state of emergency. Airports, bridges, subways and tunnels were closed throughout the city.
U.S. authorities had been on alert for an another attack by Saudi fugitive Osama Bin Laden amid an opposition Afghan drive toward Kabul. Bin Laden had threatened to retaliate against the United States with nonconventional weapons. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------