Small Craft Crashes Into East 72nd Building .:. grubbykid.com

Small Craft Crashes Into East 72nd Building

, originally uploaded by Jenblossom

Breaking: ~~Helicopter~~ Fixed Wing Aircraft Crashes Into East 72nd Building

... it appears that the small craft crashed into the 50 story condo at 524 East 72nd Street at York Avenue.

...CNN reporting that NORAD is scrambling fighter coverage over major cities as a precaution.

...listening to the alarm calls online (sorry can't get a link), and FDNY has increased this fire to a Four Alarm fire, which includes the following equipment:

16 engines
9 ladders
5 battalion chiefs
1 rescue
1 squad
1 deputy chief
1 RAC unit
1 satellite
safety battalion
SOC battalion
1 tactical support unit
field comm

...reports are coming in that the fire has been extinguished, Gawker has photos.

Comments

Arno says:

a helicopter crashes into a building in NYC and Norad scrambles fighter jets?? the nation needs a freakin chill pill!!

Posted by: Arno at October 11, 2006 4:19 PM #

sweetchuck says:

It was not a helicopter, but a fixed wing aircraft. Homeland Security does not believe it to be terrorist related, but you know - better safe than sorry, so scramble the jets.

And a question, even if it isn't terrorist related, shouldn't we kinda be looking out for planes coming at buildings? Private or not, size regardless? WTF?

Posted by: sweetchuck at October 11, 2006 4:29 PM #

grubbykid says:

a helicopter crashes into a building in NYC and Norad scrambles fighter jets?? - well, better that they have planes in the air, I guess. Normally there are only 2-4 aircraft on station at any one time on the Eastern sector.

Yeah, how many times have planes crashed in NYC buildings? The NYC region airspace is pretty tightly controlled.

Posted by: grubbykid at October 11, 2006 4:55 PM #

sweetchuck says:

And now we learn the plane was registered to, and presumably was occupied by, Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle. Strange.

Posted by: sweetchuck at October 11, 2006 5:06 PM #

Dad says:

Very Strange.

Posted by: Dad at October 11, 2006 5:27 PM #

Arno says:

I still think it is outlandish and a HUGE over reaction to scramble anything but eggs over a small aircraft crashing into a building. How often does it happen in NYC or anywhere else?? rare at best.....

Posted by: Arno at October 11, 2006 5:29 PM #

sweetchuck says:

I just heard this gem from the mayor's press conference:

Reporter: What does this say about the security of New York City airspace?

Mayor: I don't think it has anything to do with that. Small planes are allowed...etc.

Does that seem outrageously erroneous to anyone else?

Posted by: sweetchuck at October 11, 2006 5:35 PM #

Arno says:

I don't think it sounds erroneous. Small planes which are flying only by visual are not required to report to or have any communication with traffic control. Does this pose a threat, sure. However, can one imagine the traffic for the controllers if EVERYONE had to have communication?