aircraft over several US cities. Channel 7 quoting the FDNY says it was a large helicopter. WNYC says the smoke has stopped coming out of the north side of the building.

Aircraft crashes into East Side building
amNewYork and Newsday

link

October 11, 2006, 3:47 PM EDT

An aircraft crashed into a high-rise residential building on the Upper East Side shortly before 3 p.m., officials said, damaging at least 10 apartments.

Televised reports said at least two people have been killed and authorities on the scene said that the craft was either a small plane or helicopter.

Christine Monaco, a New York spokeswoman for FBI, said there was no indication of terrorism, but that officials "have been sent to the scene as a routine." FAA spokesman Jim Peters said all three New York City-area airports were operating normally.

"The initial indication is that there is a terrible accident," said Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke.

Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi said an aircraft struck the 20th floor of the building on East 72nd Street and York Avenue. Flames could be seen shooting from windows on two upper floors of the 50-story building, near the East River.

Burning debris fell from the tower, and a column of gray smoke rose over the city.

"There's huge pieces of debris falling," said one witness who refused to give her full name. "There's so much falling now, I've got to get away."

New York City Police said there was no indication from defense department officials that any suspicious aircraft were in the area. However, as a precautionary measure, NORAD has ordered fighter aircraft to patrol U.S. cities.

Witness Sarah Steiner, who lives one block away, told CNN that "The fire was raging out of two windows on approximately the 30th floor. ... They are evacuating the building."

"I saw a helicopter in flames bounce off the building. It was in flames. It felt like a rocket ... All of a sudden, it fell," said Doris Light.

"It was a shock, I'm still shaking from it," she said. "I just saw a ball of flame and out of that ball of flame was a ... a... I'm just so scared."

Prior to the crash, some witnesses said the craft was flying erratically.

The building, located at 524 E. 72nd Street, has been identified as the Bel Aire building. The 50-story condominium tower was built in 1986 and is located nearby Sotheby's Auction House. It has 183 apartments, many of which sell for more than $1 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

a fixed wing aircraft. Also police have confirmed at least two deaths. Firefighteers are considering rooftop evacuations.

Aircraft Hits Manhattan Building; 2 Dead
By COLEEN LONG , 10.11.2006, 04:01 PM

http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/10/11/ap3084119.html

A small plane crashed into an Upper East Side high-rise Wednesday, shooting flames out the windows, raining debris on the sidewalks below and rattling New Yorkers' nerves exactly one month after the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. Police confirmed 2 people are dead.

Christine Monaco, a New York spokeswoman for FBI, said there was no indication of terrorism, but that officials "have been sent to the scene as a routine." FAA spokesman Jim Peters said all three New York City-area airports were operating normally.

"The initial indication is that there is a terrible accident," said Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke.

Nevertheless, fighter jets were scrambled over U.S. cities as a precaution, the Pentagon said.

The aircraft struck the 20th floor of a building on East 72nd Street, said Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi. Witnesses said the crash caused a loud noise, and flames were seen shooting out of the windows.

"It's a mob scene with police and helicopters circling," said Sandy Teller, watching from his apartment a block away. "There's a dozen ambulances and lots of firefighters waiting on 72nd, on the corner. There's lots of stretchers ready, gurneys. And lots of emergency people waiting."

The crash struck fear in a city devastated by the attacks of Sept. 11 five years ago. Witnesses said sirens echoed across the east side of Manhattan as emergency workers rushed to the scene. The crash triggered a loud bang. Broken glass and debris was strewn around the neighborhood.

"There's a sense of helplessness," Teller said. "Cots and gurneys, waiting. It's a mess."

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 October afternoon.

Richard Drutman, a professional photographer who lives on the building's 11th floor, said he was speaking on the telephone when he felt the building shake.

"There was a huge explosion. I looked out my window, and saw what appeared to be pieces of wings, on fire, falling from the sky," Drutman said.

He and his girlfriend quickly evacuated the building.

The address of the building is 524 E. 72nd Street - a 50-story condominium tower built in the late 1980s and located near Sotheby's auction house. The Belaire Condo, developed by William Zeckendorf Jr., has 183 apartments, many of which sell for more than $1 million.

Several lower floors of the building are occupied by doctors and administrative offices, as well as guest facilities for family members of patients at the Hospital for Special Surgery, hospital spokeswoman Phyllis Fisher said. No patients were in the high-rise building and operations at the hospital a block away weren't affected, Fisher said. The Hospital for Special Surgery specializes in orthopedic operations.

Looks to me as if they were very close to making it to ditch in the East River.
_{"at some point I'm hopeful I'll figure out something to put here"}

Was it in Miami where a similar ... accident occurred?

-- 101 ways to avoid the subjunctive mood

why were flying lessons going on that close to New York's skyscrapers anyway?

Apparently 9/11 only changed most of everything.