October 11, 2006
Plane Crashes on E72nd, Yankee Cory Lidle Feared Dead
A helicopter has crashed into a building on East 72nd. It was thought to be a small plane, but now reports say it is a helicopter. The helicopter seems to have crashed into 524 East 72nd Street, a residential apartment building. CNN is saying there are no reports of terrorism or hijacking.
Update: Dan Dickinson says it smells like smoke three blocks away and that traffic is screwed.
Update: NY1 is reporting that 3-4 apartments are engulfed in flames.
Update: Victims are apparently trapped in the building; reports say there is at least one DOA. Heavy debris is falling as well. And the building at 524 East 72nd Street is the Belaire Building. Nearby: The Hospital for Special Surgery (it's unclear whether the hospital was hit).
Update: Workers are apparently trapped on the roof of the building. We also hear that the streets are packed with people, many taking cameraphone pictures.
The MTA is reporting that bus service in the area will experience some delays.
Update: City and the FDNY have confirmed that a helicopter crashed into the building. WABC 7 reports that the helicopter was flying in "exclusion airspace."
All local news channels have joined NY1 and CNN with live coverage. A witness told WNBC, "There's huge pieces of debris falling. There's so much falling now, I've got to get away." WCBS 2 reports that a helictoper had been in the air for a photography tour, "but there is NO confirmation that that is the aircraft which collided into the building."
Update: CNN reports that air patrols are being deployed. And the FAA says it was a fixed wing aircraft that crashed into the building; NORAD says they were not tracking any aircraft.
Update: WNBC 4 is reporting that some people saw airplane/seaplane/helicopter made a sharp right turn into the building. Luggage was found on street along with two bodies and the wheels of the aircraft. And according to the WNBC.com website:
Christine Monaco, a New York spokeswoman for FBI, said there wasn't indication of terrorism in the crash, but that officials "have been sent to the scene as a routine." FAA spokesman Jim Peters said all three New York City-area airports are operating normally.The FDNY have also raised this a four alarm fire, which means 16 engine and 9 ladder companies have responded; most of the fire has been extinguished.
A WNBC reporter said that a FDNY official also said the "penetration" of the crash wasn't significant - meaning that the aircraft doesn't seem to have compromised the structure.
Update: Alex Wallace, who is a VP at NBC News and happened to be dropping off her child in the area, had originally thought it was a helicopter because of the piece of aircraft that fell. She described to WNBC that it looked like the plane made a turn and seemed to make a nosedive into the side of the building. WNBC's Tim Minton mentioned a witness who said it seemed like a plane had been doing "tricks" in the air.
Update: NBC reports the aircraft was a single engine plane from Teterboro. WNBC mentioned that the tags on the luggage said "White Plains" (perhaps bound for White Plains).
Update: A total of four people have been confirmed dead - two people from the plane, two people from the building. Additionally, the aircraft was a Cirrus 20, which supposedly has a parachute for emergencies. (When we thought that type of plane sounded familiar, it was because the owner of Kartell died in a Cirrus SR20 last month.)
Update: It's unclear who owns the plane; it seems to have been owned by a Florida man who was in the process of selling it. And on WNBC, they have been introduced a "concerning report" that the plane could have been purchased by Yankee pitcher Cory Lidle, who had purchased a $187,000 Cirrus SR20 recently and only got his pilot license in the off-season (here's a NY Times article that discusses Lidle and his plane), based on information on the tail.
Gawker has some photographs of the building on fire (you can see charring on the sides) and Curbed as a pre-crash photograph of the building.
Update: Nine people, including four firefighters, were admitted to New York Hospital. The hospital also said there was one DOA - unclear that was included in the nine.
Update: Law enforcement confirmed that a member of the Yankees organization was on board the plane.
Update: NY Times says "Yankees Pitcher Cory Lidle Was Killed in the Plane Crash, High-Ranking City Official Says." Lidle's passport was found on the street.
Lidle spoke with Mike and the Mad Dog on Monday, discussing whether or not he had blamed Joe Torre for the loss in quotes after Game 4; the interview is still on WFAN.com.
Update: During interviews, Governor Pataki says that air space may need to be restricted after this (question being, why are aircrafts allowed to fly so low and close to buildings?). Additionally, it seems that Lidle did have a visual flying license (able to fly in good weather with visibility of 3 miles) but not an instrument license (more about pilot certification from Wikipedia).
Update: Mayor Bloomberg is having a press conference. He confirms that two people were aboard - one was a flight instructor, the other was a student with about 75 hours of experience. (He does not mention Cory Lidle at all and shut down any questions about it saying they do not know.) The damage to 524 East 72nd was relatively small because the plane itself was a lightweight composite plane. The Mayor also credited the FDNY and NYPD with their response and cooperation with each other.
The plane's route from Teterboro: Statue of Liberty, then up the East River, past the 59th Street bridge where it lost radar contact. Exclusion zone means planes just needs visual contact, but doesn't need to be in contact with air traffic.
The NTSB is on site. The building is being re-occupied. Mayor Bloomberg asks that everyone pray, but also noted that we were lucky it wasn't a bigger accident with more injuries.
The Mayor also mentioned that two people were able to escape the building when the plane crashed (were only two people killed - the two on board the plane - now?).
Update: A distress call was made before the crash. Mets players, getting ready for their game tonight, tell reporters they are sad and send out their prayers to the Lidle family and Yankees organization. The Yankees have not made an official statement yet (their website did link about the MLB.com story about Lidle possibly being dead, but now it's gone), but MLB.com has put his picture up with "March 22, 1977 - October 11, 2006" on the homepage with this article.
Update: NBC is reporting the Lidle is confirmed dead.
Photograph on middle right of 524 East 72nd Street by Frank Franklin/AP; photograph above with detail of a floor at 524 East 72nd Street by Jeff Christensen/AP; photograph of Lidle by Gail Burton/AP
|
CNN is saying that it's a small plane, and that the incident occurred on East 71st Street. I'm guessing that it's going to take a little while for the details to come to light.
CNN is saying that it's a small plane, and that the incident occurred on East 71st Street. I'm guessing that it's going to take a little while for the details to come to light.
FUCK!
EVERYBODY PANIC!!!
Brownpants Time! Thanks CNN for making everyone shit their pants.
Reports are stronger with the helicopter detail; they have a tight shot of the apartments (looks like two floors, two units) engulfed in flames, but it also looks like the FDNY is already in there (it's really quite something -- you can see what looks like chemical suppressant or water coming out the window).
I hope this doesn't intefere with subway service out to Shea Stadium tonight!!
It's obviously Clinton's fault.
Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god
Who cares. The less you care, the more likely transportation is going to run on time - and isn't that what really matters?
How am I going to get to the airport now?
I can't take a cab like you peons. I want my chopper, chop chop.
Let's try a little sensitivity people. I doubt the game tonight is as important as the lives that could be lost. Human lives are involved here; and jokes are not appropriate now.
All manner of emergency service personnel--fire, police, hazmat, ambulance, etc. all headed uptown on 3rd, in groups, one after another.
Looks like they're on it.
wow people. CNN isn't (at least the screen page gothamist's showing) saying it's terrorism. the fact is people are trapped and dead or dying. have a little concern, it's still a terrible accident.
but yes, the most important issue now is whether the 7 is running. ah, the compassion of new yorkers.
*Who cares. The less you care, the more likely transportation is going to run on time - and isn't that what really matters?*
it amazes me there are so many of you who are so cold.
Does this mean our airspace is unprotected?
Jesus, I live at 73rd and York. Wonder what I'll come home to.
no but CNN is saying things like-
"This is right near the UN"
"This is close to Laguardia"
"Isn't Sothabes Auction House there?" and my favorite:
"9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11"
It is like they have one dude who visited NYC on his high school class trip as their NYC "expert"
Just walked over there: lots of firefighters, policemen, ambulances (a hospital is 2 blocks away). Lots of smoke. Traffic is REALLY backed up.
wow kirsten, no one cares that you live nearby. NO ONE.
show the slightest bit of compassion for those involved in the accident. i love how everyone automatically thinks about themsevles *and then feels the need to actually post it on gothamist*
I think the a-holes here are trying to mask some fear they may have, by making light of this. I don't think anyone thinks this is terrorists, but it's a terrible accident. Let's not jump on something that doesn't even exist.
good luck, kirsten, i hope your apt is not on fire.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Police say an aircraft has crashed into a building on Manhattan's Upper East Side at 72nd Street and York Avenue. It is near Rockefeller Center.
Yes...if by "near" you mean "in a completely different part of town."
CNN sucks.
The subway better be fucking running is all I'm saying
Has anyone else noticed that whenever something happens, NY1.com goes down (1010wins is down too). Doesn't anyone, at, say, Time Warner notice this and maybe figure upgrading servers would be a good idea?
Well I'd rather crack a joke instead of flipping out and worrying about terrorism, like CNN is making it out to be. Let's wait for details before we get the body count going.
CNN's website even says its "near Rockefeller Center" and the Hudson River...
Heard from a friend who is working in the HSS building that the main hospital building itself was not hit. They have a cafeteria and other facilities on the first floor of the Belaire building which was evacuated as soon as all this happened.
Hey, time to visit the rental office at the Bel Aire and get a nice discount on a lease! "Just a little smoke damage"
Panic and real estate joking aside, I'm almost positive that people died in this incident, at the very least in the helicopter. My prayers go to the victims families, and let's hope the casualty count in this incident is minimized.
I don't care about the Met game, ok I do,
But for the love of God, don't have that bald Tenor sing God Bless America.
I like your CNN observation, CNN is as bad as Fox nowadays.
al qaeda? i don't think so. just another bitter end to a divorce related property struggle.
Hmmm... today is 10/11.
This is clearly the work of Gozar the Traveler.
You mean the AP sucks. Although I'm sure CNN sucks too.
Drudgereport: "It's a Fixed Wing Aircraft NOT a helicopter." You can smell smoke on 54th and 3rd.
"It's obviously Clinton's fault."
ha hahahahhahahahah
This is not funny at all but man that comment sure was.
helicopters are the dumbest way to travel, not to mention dangerous and polluting
unbelievable... shouldn't the federal government be on this..
aircraft flying in exclusion airspace.
goddammit... just demonstrates we are still fucked for national security. could've had a nuclear bomb in it. jeez
our government sucks.
i was outside smoking on 8th st. around 2:15 or so. my companion and i noticed a low-flying, quite loud helicopter - so low and loud that it was definitely out of the ordinary. anybody else? I only saw it for a second.
...probably isn't the same, but, hmm...
no one's talking about Mark Foley now...
Is there a ferry that goes to Shea?
Cell Phone service is spotty.
I'm wondering is it effecting Matinee Wednesday.
Wow, this Hope those apts were empty...
Hope it wasn't another Suicide like in Florida a few years ago.
what websites are people using to track this? i've been refreshing nytimes and cnn..
i want turkey for dinner
"NEW YORK (AP) -- Police say an aircraft has crashed into a building on Manhattan's Upper East Side at 72nd Street and York Avenue. It is near Rockefeller Center."
The AP staffer is just senimental and bummed that the AP is no longer at Rock Center. Now they have to schlep all the way over to 33rd and 10th.
Gotta love the eyewitness reports from all the people who sounds like George Costanza's parents. They are more accurate than most of the newspeople.
does anyone know there was a five alarm fire in the bronx this morning? it took up half a block and a several major intersections were closed. i looked for information online today and there was nothing. it is a commercial area though so probably no one was injured--i hope. not to undermine what happened on e. 72nd today, but what about news coverage for "other" parts of this crazy town?
i love the juxtoposition of this and "What's Fresh - Brocolli".
um - "...there WASN'T any indication of terrorism..."
They could be talking about the Rockefeller University medical center, which is right near there.
CNN must have meant Rockefeller University, which is nearby (67th and York). (www.rockefeller.edu)
I shit you not- the female anchor on CNN just said that the building is located "on East 72nd street; about mid-way between Wall Street and UPSTATE NEW YORK." Man it is great that the reporters from Atlanta are covering this.
I like cheese.
"wow kirsten, no one cares that you live nearby. NO ONE.
show the slightest bit of compassion for those involved in the accident. i love how everyone automatically thinks about themsevles *and then feels the need to actually post it on gothamist*"
Wow, Mara, you're a fkng btch!
I HATE CNN
You might want to change that last quote to "WANS'T any indication of terrorism".
Went down there, it's on the 20th floor or so...fire is all but out, York Ave is a mobscene.. here's some pics:
http://velvet-sea.blogspot.com/2006/10/plane-crash-into-upper-east-side.html
It is near Rockefeller UNIVERSITY, something CNN apparently gleaned from maps.google.com.
yeah, but black people live there.
CNN's homepage headline:
"Planes crashes into N.Y. building"
I mean really...
way to copy the ONE KEY WORD from the WNBC report wrong:
Christine Monaco, a New York spokeswoman for FBI, said there was indication of terrorism in the crash, but that officials "have been sent to the scene as a routine." FAA spokesman Jim Peters said all three New York City-area airports are operating normally.
WASN'T! The word is WASN'T NOT WAS!
Typos cause panics...
you wrote:
Christine Monaco, a New York spokeswoman for FBI, said there was indication of terrorism in the crash...
the article says:
Christine Monaco, a New York spokeswoman for FBI, said there wasn't any indication of terrorism in the crash...
thanks for actually covering this
10-11-06. Read that date upside down.
BX you're absolutely right, but the fact that it was a plane crash and evokes fears of a certain day about five years ago probably explains why this is in the news.
Has anyone else noticed increased police presence in the subways the past two days? Maybe someone knew something. I got on the N/R at 49th, the F at 14th and the 2/3 at Grand Army Plaza and saw cops checking bags at each place. I haven't seen police checking bags, period, in months...
october surprise!
90-11-01?
Okay, it is REALLY stupid that every time there is some kind of 'disaster', it's ALL ABOUT 9/11! For fuck's sake, this has NOTHING to do with 9/11!
Also, I laughed at the "It's Clinton's fault" joke, and the "Rockerfeller Center" thing, too. But I also hope nobody was hurt, since my best friend lives in NYC.
Gothamist, you misquoted the WNBC story... it says that there WASN'T any indication of terrorism. Not that there was indication of terrorism, as you quoted. Please be careful. The truth is scary enough.
Uh, why does your main page say "...a New York spokeswoman for FBI, said there was indication of terrorism in the crash."?
Way to say the EXACT opposite of the truth and what is needed to be said.
PROOFREAD for God's sake.
</