10/11?

[the PC apeman]

Breaking News:
A small aircraft has crashed into a NYC building. Is it nothing? Is today's date (11th) important? I really hope this is just an accident.

[D_Odds]

Right now they are saying a small helicopter crashed in the vicinity of East 71st/72nd street near the East River. At first glance, this is not an attack.

[D_Odds]

Forgot to mention, it's residential.

[LonesomePolecat]

Originally Posted by ThePCapeman

Breaking News:
A small aircraft has crashed into a NYC building. Is it nothing? Is today's date (11th) important? I really hope this is just an accident.

Linky?

[the PC apeman]

"Twin-engine general aviation plane" is the latest. Certainly nothing on the scale of 9/11 if an attack at all. It's smack-dab in the middle of the building. Perhaps something more like that Florida kid if intentional at all.

No link yet. Seeing it live on CNN.

[D_Odds]

Links are useless at this time; no one knows anything more than Plane crashes into Manhattan building. Everything else is speculation.

[Wee Bairn]

If terrorism is involved, this is one lame attack.

[Astroboy14]

Cnn.com doesn't have anything useful at all...

[What Exit?]

Just so everyone knows, there is a parallel thread in the MPSIMS: Breaking news: plane just crashed into NYC building
No real news yet, but it looks like an accident. I hope it was.

jim

[tdn]

It seems like it would be a simple matter to determine if was an act of terrorism (which I believe it was not). Is it even possible to pilot a small plane without somebody knowing about it? Process of elimination should determine what it was and who was flying it.

Or am I wrong?

[D_Odds]

For those who want an idea of the area, on google maps, enter 525 East 72nd Street, New York, NY

There's a heliport nearby.

[Apos]

Small aircraft sounds like from a witness, was acting like it stalled out. This is right by Cornel's Hospital. Sounds pretty unlikely to be a terrorist attack, and if so, pretty darn small scale. They say that HAZmat tape is up.... but people are standing around on both sides of it without protective gear. Sounds mostly just like spilled fuel.

Sort of a bizarre moment: woman on Fox says she saw it happen and then saw an update about it on CNN.... she then looked askance and apologized: I guess because FOX doesn't like anyone mentioning that they were watching or getting their news from a competitor.

[BobLibDem]

Looks like the NYFD is getting this under control and the structure is going to survive. Good job, firemen!

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Apos

Small aircraft sounds like from a witness, was acting like it stalled out. This is right by Cornel's Hospital. Sounds pretty unlikely to be a terrorist attack, and if so, pretty darn small scale. They say that HAZmat tape is up.... but people are standing around on both sides of it without protective gear. Sounds mostly just like spilled fuel.

Sort of a bizarre moment: woman on Fox says she saw it happen and then saw an update about it on CNN.... she then looked askance and apologized: I guess because FOX doesn't like anyone mentioning that they were watching or getting their news from a competitor.

I just saw the same interview. She said she saw a small white 4 seater airplane.
FOX 5 also reported that SWAT was on the scene just in case.

[Apos]

Fighter planes launched to bring sonic booms of super freedom to cities around the US as well to drop leaflets about how the Democrats are behind the Foley scandal.

[D_Odds]

Run! The North Koreans are attacking!

[the PC apeman]

Originally Posted by BobLibDem

Looks like the NYFD is getting this under control and the structure is going to survive. Good job, firemen!

They earn their NY's Bravest title yet again. The WTC had to be somewhere in the minds of these folk as they rushed into the building. Can't be said too much. Good job!

[tdn]

Originally Posted by D_Odds

Run! The North Koreans are attacking!

*snerk*

[Contrapuntal]

One of the non-talking non-head idiots on MSNBC just said "I am actually, physically looking at the building right now."

Another one previously had said "This just in: The White House has been informed!" Ya think?

[the PC apeman]

Originally Posted by Contrapuntal

One of the non-talking non-head idiots on MSNBC just said "I am actually, physically looking at the building right now."

Another one previously had said "This just in: The White House has been informed!" Ya think?

Was Bush still trying to read The Pet Goat?

[Contrapuntal]

Originally Posted by ThePCapeman

Was Bush still trying to read The Pet Goat?

I think he was conferring with Hastert on the best way to "Pet the Goat," if you know what I mean.

[Colophon]

Originally Posted by ThePCapeman

Is today's date (11th) important?

WTF is the modern-day obsession with dates of terrorist attacks all about? In the old days, shit got blown up and we called it "The Attack on X". Nowadays we have to label it "X/Y - The Day That Bad Shit Went Down", and everyone's forever scouring their calendars and wondering when it's "safe" to travel.

Pop quiz - what was the date of the Oklahoma City bombing? Or, for, UK residents like me, the Manchester or Omagh bombs? No clue whatsoever. Why obsess over DATES all of a sudden?

[lieu]

Along the lines of Wag The Goat?

[Otto]

Originally Posted by Colophon

Pop quiz - what was the date of the Oklahoma City bombing?

April 19.

[lieu]

Originally Posted by Colophon

Pop quiz - what was the date of the Oklahoma City bombing?

Same day as the Branch Davidian seige in Waco, chosen for that reason.

Rarely it does happen, although overall I'm with you.

[the PC apeman]

Originally Posted by Colophon

WTF is the modern-day obsession with dates of terrorist attacks all about? In the old days, shit got blown up and we called it "The Attack on X". Nowadays we have to label it "X/Y - The Day That Bad Shit Went Down", and everyone's forever scouring their calendars and wondering when it's "safe" to travel.

Pop quiz - what was the date of the Oklahoma City bombing? Or, for, UK residents like me, the Manchester or Omagh bombs? No clue whatsoever. Why obsess over DATES all of a sudden?

Well, where ever it started, the 3/11 Madrid train bombings reinforced it for me.

[choie]

I'm watching NY1 (local news channel) and they're speaking with a man from a building across the street. He says he saw the plane, which seemed to be a twin engine prop (i.e. propeller) plane, weaving around buildings; the engines were choking or sputtering, and seemed in distress before crashing.

According to a fresh report, the plane originated from a Peterboro NJ airport. One confirmed dead, another possible. I don't know if that's counting the pilot.

This is really freaky; I'm only fourteen blocks away, and I didn't hear a thing. The city's so bleedin' noisy as a matter of course during the afternoon that you can't even hear a plane crashing nearby! It's raining pretty hard at the moment, so I guess that'll help dissipate the smoke. I'm feeling nauseous though... bad memories of five years ago.

Anyway, just thought I'd give some local coverage.

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Colophon

WTF is the modern-day obsession with dates of terrorist attacks all about? In the old days, shit got blown up and we called it "The Attack on X". Nowadays we have to label it "X/Y - The Day That Bad Shit Went Down", and everyone's forever scouring their calendars and wondering when it's "safe" to travel.

Pop quiz - what was the date of the Oklahoma City bombing? Or, for, UK residents like me, the Manchester or Omagh bombs? No clue whatsoever. Why obsess over DATES all of a sudden?

What you do not like numerology?
I think Americans have always been big on the anniversary date. July 4th and Dec 7th come to mind very quickly. 9/11 rang a bell in many ways. 911 is our emergency call number. The 11 looked like the towers to some small degree and it just stuck. Additionally, the attack was in 3 locations, so it would be hard to call it anything by location without slighting the locations. I guess we could have called it the Day of Terror, but 9/11 is what has stuck. So now we have at 3 major events known mostly by their dates.

Jim

[Contrapuntal]

Originally Posted by What Exit?

I just saw the same interview. She said she saw a small white 4 seater airplane.
FOX 5 also reported that SWAT was on the scene just in case.

MSNBC is now confirmingn that it was a Cirrus SR20.

http://www.cirrusdesign.com/aircraft/

[the PC apeman]

Meant to include this link to linguist Geoff Nunberg's Fresh Air commentary on the subject.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=1427924

[the PC apeman]

Corey Lidle?

[Contrapuntal]

MSNBC is now confirming that Yankee pitcher Corey Lidle had purchased the plane, and was waiting for FAA licensing. The plane apparently had not filed a flight plan. This just in, they are now saying that Corey Lidle was on the plane.

[Quint]

Originally Posted by Colophon

WTF is the modern-day obsession with dates of terrorist attacks all about? In the old days, shit got blown up and we called it "The Attack on X". Nowadays we have to label it "X/Y - The Day That Bad Shit Went Down", and everyone's forever scouring their calendars and wondering when it's "safe" to travel.

Pop quiz - what was the date of the Oklahoma City bombing? Or, for, UK residents like me, the Manchester or Omagh bombs? No clue whatsoever. Why obsess over DATES all of a sudden?

Remember, remember the fifth of November...

[Diogenes the Cynic]

ESPN reporting that Lidle was the pilot. Yankees confirming.

[Contrapuntal]

Originally Posted by Diogenes the Cynic

ESPN reporting that Lidle was the pilot. Yankees confirming.

Apparently his passport was found on the street. The pane was his.

[Apos]

Wait, so he was not yet liscenced and had no flight plan? How does that happen?

[Anne Neville]

The Yankees and New York city officials are saying that Cory Lidle was killed in the crash

Originally Posted by tdn

It seems like it would be a simple matter to determine if was an act of terrorism (which I believe it was not). Is it even possible to pilot a small plane without somebody knowing about it?

An FAA spokesperson said, in the above-linked article, that pilots flying small planes by sight are not required to be in contact with air traffic control.

[Contrapuntal]

Originally Posted by Apos

Wait, so he was not yet liscenced and had no flight plan? How does that happen?

He had a pilot's license. The plane's licensure had not been finalized.

[Asimovian]

Originally Posted by Anne Neville

The Yankees and New York city officials are saying that Cory Lidle was killed in the crash

MLB's website has the news now, too.

[Apos]

Can planes normally fly during that period?

[Contrapuntal]

Originally Posted by Apos

Can planes normally fly during that period?

Mayor Blomberg is giving a press conference right now. He said that the two occupants were a "flight instructor and a student pilot" so my guess is that planes can fly during that period. Sort of like when you buy a new car and get temporary plates.

[Broomstick]

Originally Posted by Contrapuntal

Mayor Blomberg is giving a press conference right now. He said that the two occupants were a "flight instructor and a student pilot" so my guess is that planes can fly during that period. Sort of like when you buy a new car and get temporary plates.

Yep, that's a good analogy.

Originally Posted by tdn

It seems like it would be a simple matter to determine if was an act of terrorism (which I believe it was not). Is it even possible to pilot a small plane without somebody knowing about it? Process of elimination should determine what it was and who was flying it.

Or am I wrong?

Um... yes and no. Outside of theft (which has become much, much rarer since 9/11) pretty much yes. For renting small airplanes, as I do, everywhere I've done it you have to sign for the airplane, so in that case yeah, they have a pretty good idea of at least one of the people on board. For privately owned planed, sometimes there's more than one owner, and it's possible to lend your airplane to someone else, but for a small plane with a single owner, the owner is almost always on board while its airborne.

But in fact, yes, it is possible for you to get into your small airplane and take off without having to tell anyone or ask for permission first provided you stay out of certain airspace. Entering such airspace without contacting someone will usually attract attention, but customarially you would identify yourself by aircraft number, not your own name.

Originally Posted by Apos

Wait, so he was not yet liscenced and had no flight plan? How does that happen?

Flight plans are not always required in the US. The "VFR flyway" he was in was one such airspace

[Wee Bairn]

ESPN reported it was piloted by a Yankees pitcher, THEN added there were no signs of terrorism. Ya think? Are there a lot of American sports figures connected to Al-Qaeda?

Then ESPN inquired as to fundraisers or what MLB will do to take care of his family? WTF? I understand it is a sad terrible thing, but this guy has made over
20 million in his career, and you think his family needs help? How silly is that?

[Jackknifed Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Wee Bairn

ESPN reported it was piloted by a Yankees pitcher, THEN added there were no signs of terrorism. Ya think? Are there a lot of American sports figures connected to Al-Qaeda?

My friend is already referring to him as "Bin Lidle".

Too early, I say.

[DxZero]

Originally Posted by Wee Bairn

Then ESPN inquired as to fundraisers or what MLB will do to take care of his family? WTF? I understand it is a sad terrible thing, but this guy has made over
20 million in his career, and you think his family needs help? How silly is that?

I believe since Lidle crossed the picket lines in 1995, he lost his MLB union membership and all the benefits that would come that. So while he did make a fair amount of money over his career (I don't know that he has made over 20 million though. He was a borderline MLB player for a long time), his family could probably use of bit of financial support for awhile especially if he did not invest his money properly.

[homeskillet]

Good lord, my office is all a buzz with this little coincidence.
Plane crashs into Manhattan high-rise on 10/11/06.
Invert the date and you get 90/11/01.
Queue Twilight Zone theme music.

[D_Odds]

Originally Posted by homeskillet

Good lord, my office is all a buzz with this little coincidence.
Plane crashs into Manhattan high-rise on 10/11/06.
Invert the date and you get 90/11/01.
Queue Twilight Zone theme music.

Your office needs more work.

[What Exit?]

I feel like a jerk, I have been dwelling on how the Yanks could improve themselves and get out from some of the bad contracts on the team. I strongly believe Lidle should move on and he was a free agent, so no big problem with that, but I feel like a bit of a heel now. What is far worse, I knew him and Giambi were boyhood friends and still good friends. When I heard it was Lidle that crashed, I thought for just a minute, maybe he had Jason with him, which is one way to lose that contract. I am a very bad person. I really feel like a jerk for being able to think that way, especially at that time yesterday.
Mostly I just realized how sad this crash was as it made me think so much on Thurman Munson's death 27 years ago and of course 9/11. I have very little feelings about Cory Lidle and I am not feeling good about myself for this.

Jim

[lieu]

Originally Posted by homeskillet

Invert the date and you get 90/11/01.

Doesn't 90/11/01 equal 03/11/09? Ahhh... they want that day off.

[Annie-Xmas]

Originally Posted by homeskillet

Good lord, my office is all a buzz with this little coincidence.
Plane crashs into Manhattan high-rise on 10/11/06.
Invert the date and you get 90/11/01.
Queue Twilight Zone theme music.

Yes, and Lidle had a twin. Just like Lauren Bassette, who was killed in the JFK Jr. plane crash

More Twilight Zone music.