HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- Sunday, 6 January, 2002, 01:13 GMT
Small plane crashes into Florida
building
The plane can be seen dangling from the
building
A small private plane has crashed into a downtown skyscraper
in Tampa, Florida, killing the pilot.
The plane, reportedly a single engine Cessna, slammed into the Bank of America building around the 20th floor shortly after 1700 (2200 GMT) US Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Lance Isakson said that the plane was being flown by a student pilot after an unauthorised take-off from St Petersburg-Clearwater Airport. FBI officials say they do not believe the crash is related to terrorism but agents have been sent to the scene to investigate. Urged to land The plane was being followed by a Coast Guard helicopter at the time of the crash. Spokeswoman Lieutenant Charlotte Pittman said the helicopter had intercepted the plane and attempted to give the pilot visual signals to land at a small airport, but the plane had failed to respond. She said the plane was only a few yards from the helicopter when it was signalled to land, and there was no doubt the pilot understood what the helicopter was indicating. Federal Aviation Authority spokesman Scott Brenneer said the plane was flown by "a student pilot who did not have permission to fly the aircraft." A White House spokesman said although "there is no indication" of terrorism, President Bush had been briefed on the incident and that Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge and the Federal Aviation Administration had been notified. Terror flashback Local media reported a 15-year-old had been at the controls of the four-seater aircraft - the minimum age for a solo pilot in the US is 16. Emergency services have rushed to the scene, but at present there are no details concerning casualties inside the building, Tampa Police Department spokesman Joe Durkin said. "I saw a big cloud of smoke," said Eric Reyes who witnessed the crash. He said he saw one wing fall and hit the ground, followed moments later by the other wing. Following the crash the tail of the light aircraft could be seen dangling from the western side of the 40-storey office building, but there were no signs of fire. Although on a completely different scale, the incident had echoes of the 11 September attacks in New York and Washington in which hijacked passenger planes were flown into the World Trade Center and Pentagon buildings. ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================ | ||||||||||||||
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