Horror Scene on the UES

UPDATE: Corey Lidle, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, was killed today when a plane crashed into a residential high-rise building on New York City’s Upper East Side, igniting several apartments before pieces of the aircraft crashed to the ground, a high ranking city official confirmed late this afternoon.Police said two bodies were found on the ground shortly after the crash, one of them that of Mr. Lidle, who was a licensed pilot. The Associated Press said the plane was registered to Mr. Lidle.



Michael and I were coming out of a restaurant in Chelsea after lunch when we heard dozens of fire trucks and ambulances racing uptown -- now we know why:

Police are saying a small plane flew into a 50-story condominium building on Upper East Side, "raining flaming debris onto the sidewalks below" and stirring up horrifying memories of Sept. 11, 2001. At least two people are confirmed dead.

"The initial indication is that there is a terrible accident," Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said. Nevertheless, fighter jets were scrambled over U.S. cities as a precaution, the Pentagon said.

"There's a sense of helplessness," said Sandy Teller, watching from his apartment a block away. "Cots and gurneys, waiting. It's a mess."

Located at 524 E. 72nd St., the tower was built in the late 1980s and is situated near Sotheby's auction house. It has 183 apartments, many of which sell for more than $1 million. My brother says he heard that witnesses reported seeing a plane "struggling" around the time of the crash, but it doesn't make sense that it would fly into a building when the East River is a stone's throw away from there. I'm sure we'll be hearing much more as the night goes on. (NYT)