Aircraft Crashes Into Manhattan Condominium

A small airplane (some observers in the area) or helicopter (FDNY report, some people in the area) or small fixed-wing airplane (FAA report) crashed into the Belaire Building in NYC's fashionable Upper East Side on 72nd and York streets. It crashed between the 30th and 31st floors of the 50-story building. The crash occurred at 242pm today and 3-6 buildings are reportedly affected. Two people were reported killed. They were on the airplane.

The plane belonged to Yankees Pitcher, Cory Lidle, 34 (pictured. Photo: Mary Altaffer, AP). Lidle had been a licensed pilot for 8 months and purchased his plane for $187,000.

The FDNY found Lidle's passport at the crash site, and his driver's license was found on the street below but it is not cofirmed that he was on the plane. He was reportedly piloting the aircraft and was confirmed killed, along with another person who was also on board.

The helicopter single engine airplane, a Cirrus SR20 (pictured), originated from New Jersey's Teterboro Airport at approximately 230pm. It was flying below La Guardia's airspace, an area known as "the exclusion". The exclusion airspace is not tracked by La Guardia.

According to pilots in the area, the helicopter four-seat airplane was flying below 1500 feet. It was flying north over the East River and was weaving between buildings, possibly as low as 1000 feet before it suddenly veered into the building on 72nd street.

The aircraft might have suffered mechanical problems: a law enforcement official said the plane had issued a distress call before the crash. The FAA said it was too early to determine what might have caused the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board sent investigators to the site.

Firetrucks took 15 minutes to arrive, according to one witness who lives on the 20th floor in the building across the street. Firefighters put out the fire in less than one hour.

No deaths or injuries seem to have occurred on the ground or in the building as a result, but according to a witness, several people were injured.

The Belaire is a brick building located at 524 East 72nd, between York and East End streets, overlooking the East River. It houses medical offices on the ground floors and has residential condominiums on the upper floors. The Belaire was built in the late 1980s and has 183 apartments, most of which sell for more than $1 million each.

Lidle was traded to the Yankees by the Philadelphia Phillies on 30 July. Lidle began his career in 1997 with the Mets. He also pitched for Tampa Bay, Oakland, Toronto and Cincinnati.

One witness said he thought the airplane run out of fuel. Another witness said the plane appeared to be trying to land on the nearby East River, but lost control and flew into the building.

NOTE: This is not considered to be an act of terrorism.

The FBI and Homeland Security said there was no evidence that this crash was anything but an accident. However, according to Pentagon officials, fighter jets were sent aloft over several cities, including New York, Washington, Los Angeles and Seattle, within 10 minutes of the crash.