Wow I have no words

[jab16]

Ok so as some of you may or may not know, today a man set his home on fire(2 alarm) and then drove to the Georgetown airport just outside of my city Austin. He boarded his plane and then flew into an mildly populated area here in austin flying his plane into a federal building. Part of this building then colapsed, 13 people have been treaded for injurys, 2 of which are serious. One man is still reported missing. This was very Scary, I was just South West of this building and see it every day, and I am completly shocked at this serious turn of events. The investigation has been turned over from the Austin Fire Department, to the FBI due to the fact that the building is involved with the IRS and some small number of FBI agents. I passed this building on the way home today, I saw extensive damage, to the building and was smoking a bit still. The response was great, by both the Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department, and Austin Travis County EMS, I am proud to know that these guys are in my city(which I work with the fire department as a volinteer)

Links:

http://www.kxan.com/

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2010/02/18/austin_police_say_a_plane.html

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/02/18/texas.plane.crash.profile/index.html?hpt=T1

[Hoppah]

I've read it on the website of CNN too. At least it doesn't seem to be terrorist related. The man was just frustrated/depressed and wanted to end his life. Unfortunately, he was a pilot, had access to airplanes for some reason, was able to take off and crashed his airplane into a building.

[Ami89E1234]

Unfortunately, he was a pilot, had access to airplanes for some reason, was able to take off and crashed his airplane into a building.

Read it on MSN. He had his own plane lol. Well, it's the IRS' own fault. Why would you want to work for a company whose manual is 38,000 pages long anyway?

And isn't it contradicting in terms to say you have no words then write an entire thing about it?

[szron]

It is even in our polish news.

You saw FBI working in field?

[jab16]

I saw a FBI agent in an unmarked charger, and the a FBI of DHS helicopter, could not really tell. Most of the FBI agents where within 50 feet of the building, but I must have seen 2 or three walking to and from the scene

[szron]

Are they still on scene?

Maybe you can take some pics?

[swatlord]

Well, it's the IRS' own fault.

How is it their fault? Did they tell him to burn his house down and fly a plane into one of their buildings?

NO

I don't like the IRS either, but blaming them for something like this is like blaming K-Mart for Columbine

And isn't it contradicting in terms to say you have no words then write an entire thing about it?

Does it matter?

[Fuzzyface]

Are they still on scene?

Maybe you can take some pics?

Posted Yesterday, 11:56 PM

They might not be

(Though since it's an investigation it's plausible)

I imagine they are just tidying up the area now, it's not like they don't have the full details of the incident so as they say "open & shut" case.

Does it matter?

I think he was trying to inject small humour into a pretty serious thing.

I do agree with your "k-mart for columbine" statement though.

How do you think I feel, i'm from England and all my taxes just bailed out a bank that made £8 billion PROFIT.

However, I won't be booking any private flights directly into their offices today.

Simply; the guy clearly had a screw lose.

Edited February 19, 2010 by Fuzzyface

[Shadylasse]

It was in Danish TV as well, and good that there wasn't a big amount of killed civilians.

[SleepyLizard]

Yeh i saw this on the news, pretty shocking! Last i heard that 1 person was unaccountable, anyone know if that person has been found???

[Guest Bart]

Saw it on the belgian news. Shocking indeed.

[jab16]

@Szron: FBI is still on scene, they have picked up the investigation from the Austin Fire Department. As for pictures, I cant really get some pics, I can see if I can pick some up from a friend of mine though. I know that the FBI mobile command center is here, but I am unsure if it is on scene. I know it was at the airport where the pilot departed from.

@Lizard: Two bodys have been found, 1 is belived to be the pilot, but they have not disclosed any info about that publicy that I know of. Credit for this should be given to the Austin Fire Department, Austin Police Department, Austin-Travis County EMS, and Travis County Fire Rescue, Also to the countless civlians that helped in the rescue.

Edit: Szron FBI Pics I found

http://galleries.statesman.com/gallery/plane-crash-north-austin-building/#61450

http://galleries.statesman.com/gallery/plane-crash-north-austin-building/#61573

http://galleries.statesman.com/gallery/plane-crash-north-austin-building/#61578

[szron]

I know that the FBI mobile command center is here, but I am unsure if it is on scene. I know it was at the airport where the pilot departed from.

OMFG

I know that's so bad but "you are lucky". I would die to see FBI Mobile Command on my own eyes .

[MikeyPI]

The sad fact is that all you can do in cases like this is respond, there really is no way to prevent someone taking a puddle jumper and using it as a miniature cruise missile... The way the system works unless they go through a no-fly zone really you can take off and fly them around without much attention brought to bear as long as you have your head about you in navigation. Thankfully, most small aircraft generally are less devestating when they hit things, so luckilly the casualties were low.

In the end once the speculation is over with chances are it'll come out his home was under foreclosure or IRS siezure and that's what put him over the edge. The response to the incident was rather expedient and should be commended.

[jab16]

@Mikey: The most ive heard is he filed a VFR flight, so there was really no indication.

@Szron: posted a few Pics for ya

[szron]

Thanks... one for you

Damn... I can see destruction now, this is bad.

Well you can see NTSB there too. On NTSB website is a info about transferring investigation to FBI.

Cool pic

But I have to say it

FBI is cool

it may sound a little inmature but well

[MikeyPI]

@Mikey: The most ive heard is he filed a VFR flight, so there was really no indication.

@Szron: posted a few Pics for ya

Correct, under VFR you do not really need to specify much and ATC does not monitor you as closely as the IFR traffic.... Unfortunately it is just a fact of life when you live in a free society. As for the NTSB involvement, it would make sense they are handing it off as the incident was not likely the result of an aircraft equiptment failure but more likely a suicidal nutjob.. The FBI will do their job and in the end the NTSB might make recomendations regarding new regs to the FAA but I doubt much will come to that end.

The damage was to be honest rather impressive for the aircraft that was involved, at least he missed the reinforcement pilings so the building should hopefully be capable of being repaired. I was extremely shocked how much damage he managed with such a small aircraft.

[erfd]

He also posted a suicide note online on his business website.

Source: http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/professor-stacks-letter-a-danger

Letter edited: http://www.t35.com/embeddedart.txt

Warning by the EMP staff: the contents of the letter can be found shocking and is not considered appropriate for all ages!