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Aircraft hits New York building Aircraft hits New York building
(about 2 hours later)
Two people have died after a small aircraft crashed into a high-rise apartment building in New York City's affluent Upper East Side.Two people have died after a small aircraft crashed into a high-rise apartment building in New York City's affluent Upper East Side.
The plane was owned by New York Yankees baseball pitcher Cory Lidle. US media reports say he was piloting the plane at the time and died in the crash.The plane was owned by New York Yankees baseball pitcher Cory Lidle. US media reports say he was piloting the plane at the time and died in the crash.
Flames and smoke can be seen coming out of the 50-storey apartment building on Manhattan island. The plane's impact caused a fireball, which set the 50-storey building on Manhattan island ablaze.
The FBI says there is no indication that the crash is terrorism-related.The FBI says there is no indication that the crash is terrorism-related.
A White House spokesman said they were not ruling out any theory. The New York Fire Department said the aircraft struck the 20th floor of the building on East 72nd Street and York Avenue - identified as the Belaire, a prestigious residential tower.
As a precaution, fighter planes are now flying over a number of US cities. href="/1/hi/world/americas/6042730.stm" class="">Eyewitness: 'Grim scene' href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6042484.stm" class="">In pictures: New York crash
'Screaming' Local resident Mark Schaffer told the BBC News website that he saw the moment the plane hit from his building across the street.
The New York Fire Department said the aircraft struck the 20th floor of a building on East 72nd Street and York Avenue - identified as the Belaire, a prestigious residential tower. "I looked up when I heard a low flying plane and saw it as it crashed," Mr Schaffer said. "The rear half of the plane broke off and fell to the ground in flames. Glass sprayed out everywhere and people were screaming."
Witnesses told the Associated Press news agency the crash caused a loud noise, and burning and falling debris was seen. Both of the people known to have died were on board the plane, officials said.
href="/1/hi/world/americas/6042614.stm" class="">Crash triggers 'terror' href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6042484.stm" class="">In pictures: New York crash Lidle's passport had been found at the scene of the crash, a police official said. But New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg refused to confirm the identities of those killed.
Emergency workers have rushed to the scene, while firefighters shot streams of water at the flames from the lower floors. He stressed that the incident appeared to be an accident.
A freelance journalist at the scene, David Cox, added that there were "hundreds" of emergency workers on the ground. "There is nothing to suggest that anything remotely like terrorism was involved in this," he told a news conference.
"It's just next door to a hospital so there's a large amount of people wearing doctor's coats and various other nurses gear standing round the street," he said. 9/11 flashbacks
Witness Mark Schaffer saw the crash from a building across the street. Nonetheless fighter planes were scrambled over several cities across the US in the aftermath of the crash.
"I looked up when I heard a low flying plane and saw it as it crashed. The rear half of the plane broke off and fell to the ground in flames. Glass sprayed out everywhere and people were screaming," he told the BBC. And the incident has evoked memories of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center for many New Yorkers.
Another eyewitness told the BBC: ''The plane levelled out and then the next thing I knew it disappeared behind the building and was gone. HAVE YOUR SAY Within seconds the sirens started and the avenue was blocked up Maya, New York href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4232&edition=1&ttl=20061011223352" class="">Send us your comments
"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.'' Witness Joshua Asquith told the BBC news website: "Everybody was really shocked here, we thought of a terrorist attack. There was also a lot of noise and dust around here, causing an atmosphere of terror and fear."
A woman who lives nearby, Chris Foege, said: "I just stood there in shock, I thought 'this can't be happening to us again'. It was like 9/11 all over again," she told the AFP news agency. Roger Gosden, another eyewitness, told the BBC that "everyone in the street looked up [after hearing the crash], perhaps having flashbacks of 9/11".
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.
Are you near the scene of the crash? Send your comments and experiences in using the form below. 		On Wall Street, stocks initially fell on news of the crash, but quickly recovered when it became clear that the incident was most likely an accident.
The impact of the plane caused a loud noise and sent burning debris plummeting down onto the street below.
Emergency workers rushed to the scene, while firefighters shot streams of water at the flames from the lower floors.
The flames have now been put out, although BBC correspondent Guto Harri in Manhattan said fire engines, police cars and ambulances are still blocking nearby roads.
Are you near the scene of the crash? Send your comments and experiences in using the form below.
You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100.You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100.
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