I am at work and we heard an alarm fir a fire across town. A light plane flew into an office building in northwest Austin, Texas.
It is on fire as we speak. Our fire crew is watching on local news. A Piper Cherokee flew at apparently fill speed into an office building. Fire crews are evacuating and rescuing people right now. Eyewitness reports that the plane seemed in good condition, the motor sounded on full throttle,and was at high speed and flew into a five story building.
I will update as I can. Sorry for the short diary. Don't jump to cpnclusions, but I think it looks suspiscious.
It might be an accident. It might not. The building that was hit is apparently next to a building that houses FBI offices. The feds are already on scene and securing the area. Austin Fire has rescued at least two people, and evacuated many more. KVUE TV Austin , Austin American Statesman
This is at two alarms, and the Moble command post is set up, it is used only for major incidents. This will be a protracted scene investigation.
No reports of deaths as of yet.
For me I don;t think this is a foreign act. It might be a domestic act. He flew in at hight speed. It certainly could be a pilot heart attack or some such thing. It could be otherwise. What is very likely is that people in the building were injured or killed. Too soon to tell.
All is speculation at the moment. Thank you all for posting information faster thatn I can keep up with. The collective reporter is good.
Update: News reports have it that the pilot set his house on fire, got into the plane, and flew it into the building. There was a house on fire just before the plane weent in. It seems the house fire is the same address as the pilot's home. It also seems possible that he stole the airplane.
It seems that the plane was flown from Georgetown. Not cinfirmed.
Again this might be suicide over money problems or something else that is personal. Repeated reports that the IRS had offices in this building, but this is not confirmed. Please don't assume domestic terrorism until the facts are in.
FBI reports that the pilots name is Joseph Andrew Stack. It is more certain that this building houses IRS offices.
Update: He did not steal the plane, it was his.
Update: Here is his statement aganst the IRS. It is starting to be apparent that this was intentional and directed at the IRS. Joe Stack letter against the IRS - Take Your Pound of Flesh