A SMALL plane crashed into an Upper East Side high-rise on Wednesday, killing two people, raining debris on the sidewalks below and rattling New Yorkers’ nerves. The two deaths were confirmed by the city police. There was no word yet on injuries linked to the crash on an overcast October afternoon.
The FBI and the Homeland Security Department said there was no evidence it was a terrorist attack. “The initial indication is that there is a terrible accident,” Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said.
Nevertheless, fighter jets were scrambled over US cities as a precaution, the Pentagon said. Several helicopters have crashed over the years into or near the rivers flanking Manhattan.Burning debris fell from the tower, and a column of gray smoke rose over the city. Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi said the aircraft struck the 20th floor of a building.