AUSTIN -- A small single-engine airplane has crashed into an office complex in North Austin, an Austin police spokeswoman said Thursday.

The seven-story office building, described as the Echelon building, is in the 9400 block of Research Boulevard, according to Austin fire officials. The site is near U.S. 183 and MoPac. The crash happened about 10 a.m.

Spokeswoman Helena Wright said officials do not yet know whether the aircraft was private or commercial, and they had no immediate word on casualties.

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said there is no reason to believe that terrorism or criminal activity is involved.

Initial reports were that the Austin field office of the San Antonio FBI were in the building, but it was later learned that the FBI offices are in a nearby building.

The nearest airport is Austin Bergstrom International Airport, which is some 15 miles away, in southeast Austin, and the crash site is reportedly on the flight path for that airport.

 

 

that is terrible :(

So far reports of 2 people sent to local hospital. 1 person unaccounted for. Still very early, I would expect more wounded.

 

Many different types of business located there including some Federal Offices.

Live news stream

 

http://www.khou.com/home/related/Watch-Live-Plane-crashes-into-Austin-building-84706897.html

oh my god, I can't believe this is really happening right now ...

get der darn terrorists grr!

AUSTIN, Texas – A pilot furious with the Internal Revenue Service crashed his small plane into an office building that houses federal tax employees in Austin, Texas on Thursday, setting off a raging fire that sent workers fleeing as thick plumes of black smoke poured into the air.

A U.S. law official identified the pilot as Joseph Stack and said investigators were looking at an anti-government message on the Web linked to him. The Web site outlines problems with the IRS and says violence "is the only answer."

Federal law enforcement officials have said they were investigating whether the pilot crashed on purpose in an effort to blow up IRS offices. The Web site featured a long note dated Thursday denouncing the government and the IRS in particular and cited the Austin man's problems with the agency.

All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing.

At least one person who worked in the building was unaccounted for and two people were hospitalized, said Austin Fire Department Division Chief Dawn Clopton. She did not have any information about the pilot. About 190 IRS employees work in the building, and IRS spokesman Richard C. Sanford the agency is trying to account for all employees.

Flames shot out of the building, windows exploded and workers scrambled to safety after the blast. Thick smoke billowed out of the second and third stories hours later as fire crews battled the blaze.

"It felt like a bomb blew off," said Peggy Walker, an IRS revenue officer who was sitting at her desk in the building when the plane crashed. "The ceiling caved in and windows blew in. We got up and ran."

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford initially said the plane was identified as a Cirrus SR22, but later said it might be a Piper Cherokee.

"It's so destroyed that it's hard to identify," Lunsford said.

He said FAA has confirmed that the plane that took off from an airport in Georgetown, Texas, and that the pilot didn't file a flight plan.

In a neighborhood about six miles from the crash site, a home listed as belonging to Stack was on fire earlier Thursday. Authorities in Austin would not comment on the house fire Thursday afternoon.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100218/ap_on_re_us/us_plane_crash_texas

How many dead?

That's horrible, damned if it's another terrorist or nut.

I support him.

 

I know I'll take a lot of flack for this, but if you read his suicide note and share my passion for the non-aggression principle, then you can see he was only attempting to defend himself and others from government thieves.

 

Unfortunately the media will spin this to make him look like a man with a history of violence and irrationality. They'll rally around our government, the monopoly security corporation that steals from the poor and gives to the rich. That kills hundreds of thousands, cages millions.

 

That's fine. But as far as I'm concerned, this man is a hero. I would have pursued other avenues before suicide and self-defense, obviously... like simply leaving the country, or figuring out a way to educate as many people on these issues as possible. But he chose to die in the cause of liberty, and for that he should be praised by any decent man who can see the distinction between tax-eaters and tax-livestock.

You really think it's okay for someone to fly a plane into a building where people are working, for liberty? :/

You really think it's okay for someone to fly a plane into a building where people are working, for liberty? :/

 

The people in that building were stealing from him, and threatening his fellow citizens.

I'm so glad I wasn't near this when it happened. First heard about it at school this morning.

I'm glad no one died. I hope they find the missing person.

Was it a government school? :rolleyes:

Was it a government school? :rolleyes:

 

:dozey:

 

 

 

Anyways, turns out they found a dead body, but they're not sure if it's the person who went missing or the suicide dude.

I support him.

 

I know I'll take a lot of flack for this, but if you read his suicide note and share my passion for the non-aggression principle, then you can see he was only attempting to defend himself and others from government thieves.

 

Unfortunately the media will spin this to make him look like a man with a history of violence and irrationality. They'll rally around our government, the monopoly security corporation that steals from the poor and gives to the rich. That kills hundreds of thousands, cages millions.

 

That's fine. But as far as I'm concerned, this man is a hero. I would have pursued other avenues before suicide and self-defense, obviously... like simply leaving the country, or figuring out a way to educate as many people on these issues as possible. But he chose to die in the cause of liberty, and for that he should be praised by any decent man who can see the distinction between tax-eaters and tax-livestock.

He also set his own house on fire and left his widow and step daughter without even a roof over their heads, so woo hoo for this "hero". :dozey:

So far confirmed 2 dead and 13 injured, 1 seriously.

So far confirmed 2 dead and 13 injured, 1 seriously.

 

Really? Looked a lot worse.

He also set his own house on fire and left his widow and step daughter without even a roof over their heads, so woo hoo for this "hero". :dozey:

 

Not sure I buy this. Either he did it for the purpose of letting them collect insurance, or the federals set the fire when they discovered his motive.

 

Remember, the goal is to make him look insane, or fringe. He was neither, he was simply fighting for his and our freedom. And he didn't have much to live for - if you read his suicide note, you can see the IRS has reaped what they sowed.

Not sure I buy this. Either he did it for the purpose of letting them collect insurance, or the federals set the fire when they discovered his motive.

[/color]

Remember, the goal is to make him look insane, or fringe. He was neither, he was simply fighting for his and our freedom. And he didn't have much to live for - if you read his suicide note, you can see the IRS has reaped what they sowed.

 

Lulz.

He also set his own house on fire and left his widow and step daughter without even a roof over their heads, so woo hoo for this "hero". :dozey:

 

Yeah thats what irks me the most.. There is a better way of convincing people other than flying a plane through a building, what was the point of burning his house down anyway?:wtf:

 

He flew his private jet through the building right, so why didn't he just sell that to pay off the money...

Lulz.

 

Of course. Believe everything the government tells you.

 

And you're all raising some great questions. If he couldn't pay his taxes, why didn't he just sell his plane to pay them?

 

After all, he was probably retarded. He probably didn't realize that flying a plane into a building would kill him. He probably didn't realize that you shovel food into the same hole you use to speak.

 

Seriously? Is this the best you fools can come up with?

 

The IRS probably had a lien on his plane, you idiots.

 

EDIT: Sorry for the name calling but it always amazes me how people instantly rush to the side of Government, without questioning anything they say. It's so bad, they view the government as the only rational actor, while individuals are clearly stupid, blind, and retarded.

 

EDIT2: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100219/ap_on_en_mo/us_people_wesley_snipes_taxes

 

"I think it was an issue even for the early colonists and the British, so what's new?"

 

Jeez, finally someone sensible contributes. A voice of reason - spoken by a Hollywood actor, no less.

"He prolly didnt realize that you shovel food into the same hole you use to speak"

 

Seriously?

 

You prolly didnt realize people shit the same food we eat, which is just what we will be doing to the crap you are trying to shovel into our hole:dozey::rolleyes:.

 

(nuthin personal, but ...c`mon)

 

but , the peace loving lot of many here are just fools,:dunce:, so-

 

what do we know?:shrug:

 

 

"carry on then"

 

(and thanks for the info, Angie):) sad story.

Of course. Believe everything the government tells you.

 

Yep, because the media just loves telling us what the government told them to tell us.

It's probably an act of desperation on his part, for not knowing how to deal with his own financial issues, and the loss of self-esteem, set at his net worth in money, not his real value as a human being. Know the story of family members long ago gone mad when the markets crashed in 29 - sounds more like that to me! So he blames it all on the IRS, tried to destroy whatever he had out of vengeance and then did the last act to hit what he personally blamed as the problem, not business failures of his or maybe no one persons doing, etc.

Cousins of mine tried to blow up the family in 29 with the crash, assuming it would take everyone to heaven, since these family member's egos went down so far..

The IRS might be to blame for his woes, bot that's not the answer Jay - organizing is! Getting mobilized it!