tom
18-04-2002, 18:50
http://www.foxnews.com/images/53245/6_21_041802_milan.jpg
MILAN, Italy — A small plane crashed into the tallest building in downtown Milan Thursday evening, causing smoke to pour out of the top floors of the skyscraper.
Officials said the crash appeared to have been an accident and that only the pilot was aboard.
There were reports that one person had died. Rescue workers said about 20 people had been taken to a nearby hospital.
Smoke poured out of the 30-story Pirelli building, which houses the regional government offices. The weather was clear at the time of the crash.
Police officer Celerissimo De Simone said the pilot of the Piper aircraft had sent out a distress call at 5:50 p.m. just before the crash near Milan's main train station. RAI state TV reported that the pilot said the SOS was because of engine trouble.
Police cordoned off the area as people gawked at the skyscraper. At least one ambulance was dispatched.
Earlier, in Rome, the senate's president, Marcello Pera, said it "very probably" appeared to be a terrorist attack.
The crash put a hole in the 25th floor of the Pirelli building, and smoke was seen pouring from the opening. Police and ambulances rushed to the building.
At 30 stories high, the Pirelli skyscraper, located near the central train station, is one of the world's tallest concrete buildings. It was built in 1958 and designed by architects Gio Ponti and Pier Luigi Nervi. The building is one of the main symbols of Milan, along with the city's cathedral.
White House press secretary Ari Fleischer opened his lunchtime press briefing Thursday with this statement:
"The president just moments ago was informed about the incident in Milan. I have no additional information at all for you at this time. This is a breaking story and we don't have anything else beyond that -- the president has been informed."
It was the second time since the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington that a plane has struck a high-rise building. On Jan. 5, a 15-year-old boy crashed a stolen plane into a building in Tampa, Fla. He was the only casualty.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
FOX News say it was a small plane, i say take a look at the gaping hole in that building, this was surely a sizeable commercial plane.
More Terrorism?
MILAN, Italy — A small plane crashed into the tallest building in downtown Milan Thursday evening, causing smoke to pour out of the top floors of the skyscraper.
Officials said the crash appeared to have been an accident and that only the pilot was aboard.
There were reports that one person had died. Rescue workers said about 20 people had been taken to a nearby hospital.
Smoke poured out of the 30-story Pirelli building, which houses the regional government offices. The weather was clear at the time of the crash.
Police officer Celerissimo De Simone said the pilot of the Piper aircraft had sent out a distress call at 5:50 p.m. just before the crash near Milan's main train station. RAI state TV reported that the pilot said the SOS was because of engine trouble.
Police cordoned off the area as people gawked at the skyscraper. At least one ambulance was dispatched.
Earlier, in Rome, the senate's president, Marcello Pera, said it "very probably" appeared to be a terrorist attack.
The crash put a hole in the 25th floor of the Pirelli building, and smoke was seen pouring from the opening. Police and ambulances rushed to the building.
At 30 stories high, the Pirelli skyscraper, located near the central train station, is one of the world's tallest concrete buildings. It was built in 1958 and designed by architects Gio Ponti and Pier Luigi Nervi. The building is one of the main symbols of Milan, along with the city's cathedral.
White House press secretary Ari Fleischer opened his lunchtime press briefing Thursday with this statement:
"The president just moments ago was informed about the incident in Milan. I have no additional information at all for you at this time. This is a breaking story and we don't have anything else beyond that -- the president has been informed."
It was the second time since the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington that a plane has struck a high-rise building. On Jan. 5, a 15-year-old boy crashed a stolen plane into a building in Tampa, Fla. He was the only casualty.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
FOX News say it was a small plane, i say take a look at the gaping hole in that building, this was surely a sizeable commercial plane.
More Terrorism?