Aircraft hits New York building

[akritas]

A small aircraft has crashed into a building in New York City's affluent Upper East Side, causing a fire.
TV pictures show flames and smoke coming out of the high-rise apartment building on Manhattan island.




The FBI has told the BBC that there is no indication that the crash is terrorism-related.

A spokeswoman for the New York Fire Department said the aircraft had 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.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6042306.stm
http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?ln...3&lngDtrID=245