F-16 Fighting Falcon News

October 11, 2006 (by Asif Shamim) - F-16s from the Michigan Air National Guard scrambled in response to the aircrash of a small plane into a high rise in New York City.
Spokespersons for the ANG could not comment on where the Michigan based fighters were sent or how they were launched. All that is known is that after 3pm on the 11th, jets were scrambled after support was requested by the Northeast Air Defence Sector.

Maj. Sandy Van Wormer of the Michigan Air National Guard was quoted to have said 'We do have planes that are in the air'. another spokeswoman for the 127th FW, Lt. Penny Carrol said due to the security considerations in place she couldn't comment on where the jets were deployed, their armament, or how many were launched.

The small plane had crashed into the 50 story high Belaire Towers in New York City's affluent Upper East Side. Two floors of the building have been engulfed in flames and currently it is believed two people have been reported as killed. Reports from other sources indicate the two were New York Yankees baseball pitcher Cory Lidle and possibly his flying instructor.

Fire services in the area have been able to bring the blaze under control. No reports have come in to suggest that this crash was terrorist based.The launch of the fighters was just simply a precautionary security measure by the command authorities based at the Northeast Air Defence Sector.