QUOTE
BBC NEWS
Aircraft hits New York building
Two people were killed when a small aircraft crashed into a building in New York City's affluent Upper East Side, police say.
Flames and smoke are coming out of the 50-storey apartment building on Manhattan island.
The FBI says there is no indication that the crash is terrorism-related.
The New York Fire Department said the aircraft struck the 20th floor of a building on East 72nd Street and York Avenue.
Witnesses told the Associated Press (AP) news agency the crash caused a loud noise, and burning and falling debris was seen.
Emergency workers have rushed to the scene, while firefighters shot streams of water at the flames from the lower floors.
A senior Homeland Security official said there is no indication of terrorism, but rather it the incident appeared to be a "terrible accident".
An eyewitness told the BBC: ''The next thing I knew he [the plane] levelled out and then the next thing I knew he disappeared behind the building and he was gone.
"I said I can't believe that this is what I just saw and they kept saying it was a helicopter but it was a plane.''
BBC correspondent Guto Harri in Manhattan says there are scenes of chaos on the streets, with fire engines, police cars and ambulances blocking nearby roads.
AP identified the building as the Belaire, a prestigious 50-storey residential tower.
Aircraft hits New York building
Two people were killed when a small aircraft crashed into a building in New York City's affluent Upper East Side, police say.
Flames and smoke are coming out of the 50-storey apartment building on Manhattan island.
The FBI says there is no indication that the crash is terrorism-related.
The New York Fire Department said the aircraft struck the 20th floor of a building on East 72nd Street and York Avenue.
Witnesses told the Associated Press (AP) news agency the crash caused a loud noise, and burning and falling debris was seen.
Emergency workers have rushed to the scene, while firefighters shot streams of water at the flames from the lower floors.
A senior Homeland Security official said there is no indication of terrorism, but rather it the incident appeared to be a "terrible accident".
An eyewitness told the BBC: ''The next thing I knew he [the plane] levelled out and then the next thing I knew he disappeared behind the building and he was gone.
"I said I can't believe that this is what I just saw and they kept saying it was a helicopter but it was a plane.''
BBC correspondent Guto Harri in Manhattan says there are scenes of chaos on the streets, with fire engines, police cars and ambulances blocking nearby roads.
AP identified the building as the Belaire, a prestigious 50-storey residential tower.
So tell me... how is it not on purpose? How does a plane just waltz down a busy NYC area? I think this is a terrorist imitation. Perhaps this is jumping to conclusions but it's absolutely rediculous if it weren't.
First off, it's October 11th. A month from September 11th. Secondly it's National Coming Out Day and this could be a sick political statement. Fortunately only two people have been killed,but this could have been completely avoidable. Many people are going to lose all they own because of what that person did. I think it's the same thing as the imitation 9/11 attack that occured weeks or months after the initial attack which sounded like the same thing. I cannot recall when it occured, unfortunately.
But I do hope that this is not a terrorist attack and that it is a mere accident.
Your opinions?
