Fox News stated buildings on fire also, pictures from distance show crash site appears to be near water. Wouldn't pilot try to ditch in water if possible?
The Rockaways are basically a thin strip of land extending into water. Beach country. It's possible they were aiming for water.
It's also possible that there was another hijack situation in progress and there was nobody in the cockpit who COULD aim for water.
I look at today's date and I am just chilled. Wasn't the 12th a significant date for some reason?