Gridlock News

Most Recent Reports indicate that Cory Lidle 34 year old pitcher for the New York Yankees (picture right) was the pilot of the plane that crashed in NYC. The plane was a Cirrus SR20. 3:01 CNN's is reporting a small plane or helicopter crash into a building in New York City on 72nd and York. There No confirmations of terrorism have been provided, but there is video with smoke rising in NYC. It is a foggy day in New York. Initial reports on 9/11 indicated that a 'small plane' had crashed into the World Trade Center, reminiscent of a 1920's crash of a plane into the Empire State Building. 3:02 pm New reports indicate that several apartment buildings are engulfed in flames. 3:07 pm Fuel spill from the plane has spilled to the ground and created a fire on the ground. Firefighters, Police and Federal Agents are responding to the scene. The building is a 20 story residential building on the East River. 3:12pm The plane is believed to be a multi engine aircraft. NORAD was not tracking the aircraft and received no calls of a hijacked plane. 3:14pm The building was struck about half way up the 20 story building. 3:15pm The building possibly called the Bellaire is reportedly being evacuated. The fire appears to have spread to the floor below the floor that was struck. Smoke or flames are also now coming out of the rear of the building. New reports indicate that this building may be 50 stories and not 20. 524 E. 72st at York or about 30 blocks(1.5 miles) south from the UN building. The United Nations staff were alerted but not taking action at this time. 3:23 pm CNN is reporting that the FBI has indicated that there are no reports of terrorism. The FBI has two squads dispatched to the scene from the Joint Terrorism Taskforce. This location is very close to Sotheby's but this building is not the Sotheby's Building. 3:27 pm The aircraft was a fixed wing aircraft, flying on Visual Flight Rules (not engaged in communication with a tower or air traffic control). The fire and smoke appears to be coming from the 20th floor of a 50 story building. There is still NO INDICATION OF TERRORISM at this time. 3:33 pm 180 apartments are being evacuated at this time. The closest hospital is approximately 3 blocks away on 68th and 69th. 3:36 pm NORAD has taken the step to put fighter patrols in the air over "several US cities." There are still no press releases that indicate that this event is anything more than accident. NORAD was heavily criticized for a slow response during 9/11 and subsequent investigations revealed an inability to respond quickly. 3:38 pm The White House anounced that President Bush has been made aware of the situation. The White House is not ruling out nor ruling in the possibility of terrorism. All indications according to the spokesperson is that this appears to be an accident. 3:46 pm FAA has not closed any airports and has established a no fly area aproximately 1 mile around the crash site. Over 160 firefighters have responded to what is now considered a four alarm fire. 3:55 pm A pilot eye witness claims to have seen the plane banking sharply at about 900 ft in the air, which indicated the plane was in trouble shortly before it crashed. There is one reported fatality. Live video is available from MSNBC 4:08 pm The fire is reportedly under control at this time. People in the building reportedly heard a very loud explosion followed by flames. This crash ocurred on the 36th floor. The first 10 floors are constituted of medical offices. 4:30 pm Reports now indicate that two people died as a result of the crash or fire. Additional reports indicate that the flight originated out of a small airport in Teterborough, New Jersey and that the pilot may have made at least one distress call to air traffic control or the FAA. 4:50 Tom Verducci of CNN reports that the pilot may have been a New York Yankee's pitcher, Cory Lidle. The source of this report comes from both aviation officials and from the New York Yankees. He earned his pilots license during the last off season. Miles Obrien of CNN has a similar plane. Apparently the plane has a built in parachute that is supposed to be used to lower the plane to the ground in case of a problem. See picture above. Here is a short 1 minute video of a Training Session inside the cockpit of a Cirrus SR-20 airplane. The same type of plane reportedly crashed by Cory Lidle of the New York Yankees. 5:01 pm The FBI has confirmed that Cory Lidle was the pilot of the aircraft. Reportedly, Mr. Lidle's passport was found in the debris on the street. 5:20 pm The same parachute system on the plane that crashed in New York was deployed and saved a pilot during a crash less than a month ago. Technorati Tags: Plane Crash, NYC, Plane hits building