Posted on 12/05/2002 9:46:58 PM PST by CreekerFreeper
MIAMI -- A small plane crashed into the Federal Reserve Bank Building at NW 41 Street and 90 Avenue near Doral in Miami earlier tonight, killing the pilot and forcing the evacuation of more than 100 people attending a holiday season party, authorities said. No one inside the building was injured.
Officials say the plane approached the one-story building from the north and struck the front of the building at 8:37 p.m. It then exploded and burst into flames. The aircraft was described as a small single-engine plane, possibly an experimental aircraft.
A fire broke out, but there appeared to be no structural damage to the building. Some windows were broken and some charring was seen. The building is about 3 miles west of Miami International Airport.
"When we first came out of and walked around the side, it was really hard to determine that it was a plane," said vice president and branch manager Jay Curry, who was attending the party at the time of the crash.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were quick to respond to the scene and they put down foam on the area to contain the fire.
Miami International is close by, but "typically this type of plane would not be in this vicinity at this trajectory," said Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue spokesman Louie Fernandez said. It was too early to tell if the crash was deliberate, "but we're going to examine every angle," he said.
There is a helicopter landing pad on the other side of the Federal Reserve Building so police say the small plane may have been trying to land in the area.
At least one person has been confirmed dead. No word if any other bodies have been recovered.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.
The building also houses the Miami bureau of The Associated Press.
There are some road closures in the area. Police have blocked off the road at 107th Avenue.
Stay tuned to WSVN Channel 7 for more on this developing story.
A mosquito running into a car windshield comes to mind.
Yeah, right.
Could be that, or more likely, a muslim acting on his own.
If it's either of those two scenarios, it will be covered up and suppressed, just like other events.
That's my bet ....just like the guy in Tampa last year. Flight schools in Florida cater to Muslim terrorists, you know.
Exactly. The politicians don't want the truth to come out since it will elicit responses that are not to their liking.
Stuff like this only fuels doubts. Now, if there was some big parking lot on the crash side, maybe one could fashion "he was trying to land" story.
Should be interesting story to follow...
How about a gold standard fanatic? Someone of extreme views about the money supply?
There's my guess. :)
The pilot wanted a re-count.
Someone who read this book, perhaps? (I highly recommend it, btw).
I haven't read that one yet. I just finished "Creature from Jekyll Island", and it's one of the best books I've read.
First, it was "smiley faces".
Now, Shermy the Swami says the answer is: "gold bugs".
Yeah, right.
Oh yes--Fred, If Santa Claus can manage to bring his sleigh and eight tiny reindeer perfectly to rest on the steep, snow-covered roof of a country farmhouse, or on the crumbling roof of a NYC tenement building, then why yes-- I do believe that a small plane pilot could mistake a small, square patch of cement at the Federal Reserve Building for a full length airport runway.
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