Text 23761, 110 rader
Skriven 2006-10-11 19:11:00 av MIMI GALLANDT (1:275/311)
Ärende: Plane crash in Manhattan
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You can bet that if this _HAD_ been a terrorist act that the moonbats 
would be claiming the GOP did it for the election:

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Yankees pitcher killed in crash of small plane in Manhattan
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor 
were killed Wednesday when the 34-year-old ballplayer's plane crashed 
into a high-rise apartment building in New York, city and baseball team 
officials said. No residents at the Belaire Condominiums at 524 E. 72nd 
Street near the East River were injured.

Two bodies and Lidle's passport were found in the street, responders 
told CNN.("It looks like the plane just flew into someone's living 
room," witness Sarah Steiner told CNN.

There was a mayday from the pilot involving a problem with fuel, 
government sources close to the investigation told CNN. 

According to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the flight originated 
from Teterboro Airport in northern New Jersey at 2:29 p.m. Shortly after 
circling the Statue of Liberty and heading north near the 59th Street 
Bridge, air traffic control lost contact with pilot.

Witness Henry Neimark, who is also a pilot, said he saw a plane flying 
at relatively low altitude. "It looked to me in retrospect that this was 
a pilot desperately trying to get back to the airport and land safely on 
a runway," he said.. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner confirmed that 
Lidle was killed aboard his Cirrus Design SR-20 four seater.

"This is a terrible and shocking tragedy that has stunned the entire 
Yankees organization," he said in a written statement. "I offer my deep 
condolences and prayers to his wife, Melanie, and son, Christopher, on 
their enormous loss."

The flight instructor has not been identified because family members 
have not been notified, Bloomberg told reporters. "I think we need to 
say a little prayer for those we lost," he said.

Sixteen people, including 11 firefighters, received minor injuries in 
the accident on Manhattan's East Side, the mayor said.

More than 160 firefighters from 39 units responded to the four-alarm 
fire at the building constructed in 1988. It has 183 mainly two- and 
three-bedroom apartments valued at as much as $1.3 million. It took 
firefighters about 45 minutes to control the flames that shot from 
several windows about 10 stories from the top of the building.

Photos from a freelance photographer showed a wing and debris from the 
plane on the ground. An engine was found on one of the floors, Bloomberg 
said.

A swift federal and local response
The crash prompted a swift scramble from local authorities and the 
federal government. The White House was notified and North American 
Aerospace Defense Command said it authorized fighter aircraft into the 
air over numerous U.S. cities, as NORAD did after the September 11, 
2001, terrorist attacks.

The FAA placed a one-mile flight restriction around the site of the 
crash, but New York area airports were not affected.

A father, husband, and enthusiastic pilot
Lidle is from Hollywood, California, and played for a decade in the 
minor leagues, said Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Tom Verducci. He 
was 4-3 for the Yankees, who acquired the right-handed pitcher in a 
trade with the Philadelphia Phillies on July 30.

He pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up three runs in the Yankees' season-
ending loss to Detroit in the American League Division Series on 
Saturday.

Lidle, a nine-year veteran, was in the last year of his contract.

In his short time with the Yankees, Lidle has gained a reputation as a 
guy who "always had a smile on his face," said Verducci. Around the 
clubhouse, he "treated everyone as an equal."

Lidle was passionate about learning how to fly, the writer said. The 
ballplayer spent his off days logging time in the air. 

"[It was] only recently that [Lidle] made the money he needed to go out 
and buy a plane," said Verducci.

Lidle earned his pilot's license in February and bought the plane he was 
flying in September.

Residents return while investigation continues
Bloomberg said that few people were home at Belaire when the crash 
happened. At least two residents who were there described a loud noise 
and saw pieces of metal flying into their apartment, said the mayor.

By 6 p.m., residents who lived below the impact zone -- below the 40th 
floor -- were able to go back into the building, Bloomberg said.

(Continued next message...)

L'Chaim

Mimi

In the beginning
the Word already was.

mimigal@cox.net

þ CMPQwk 1.42 9998 þHe who dies with the most toys is dead.
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