U.S. Air Defense Mobilized after New York Plane Crash
By Thomas Hall
Published on October 12, 2006
At least two people were killed, including New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle, who was on board the Cirrus SR20 single-engine plane when it crashed.
Fears of another terrorist attack in a city devastated by the events of 9/11 triggered the Pentagon to scramble U.S. fighters over Manhattan and other cities as a precaution.
Officials say there is no indication the accident was terrorism-related.
The small, fixed-wing aircraft slammed into the 20th floor of a 50-story high-rise apartment building on East 72nd St., sending a cloud of smoke over the neighborhood and falling debris into the streets.
It is not yet known what caused the crash.
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