Austin, TX-Plane Into Building Major Emergency 2-18-10

[x635 4,066]

Date: 2-18-10

Time: 0930AM CST

Location: 9430 Research Blvd Service Road NB Aerial Map

Departments: Austin FD, Austin FD USAR, Austin PD, Austin-Travis County EMS, Travis County OEM, Lake Travis Fire Rescue, Round Rock FD, FBI, Travis County Sherrifs Office, FAA, Joint Terrorism Task Force, NTSB

Description: Plane into seven story building housing federal government and other offices. Building adjacent to highway and struck first floor on the highway side. Building fully involved in fire 2nd-4th floor, defensive ops, 2 people unaccounted for, unknown further casualties or injuries. EMS has triage set up and working.

Links: News Articles

Sources: Local media reports, streaming of press conferences,scanner

Writer: x635

Weather and visibility: Clear, sunny

0930: Fire Department has command as this time until all rescue and fire suppresion efforts have been completed. PD stating making no determinations or prelimarary statements regarding building until FD and EMS complete their operations. FBI located in adjacent building and immediate spotsately on scene. Incident Command will be turned over to law enforcement for investigation as soon as fire, USAR, and EMS operations are complete, however it is a crime scene and preliminary investigation has begun.

0945: Building 7 stories tall. Concrete construction with glass sheathing on the outside. Several IRS, government, and private offices. Plane hit 2nd floor.

1103 CST: Multiple witnesses saying plane appeared to be in full control, flying very low at full throttle apparently aiming for the building. "Huge fireball" seen and explosion felt reported when plane struck building. Plane originated from local general aviation airport.

1120hrs CST: Subject reported to be pilot REPORTEDLY set house on fire before going to the airport. Power outage in entire area. Numerous other office buildings, hotels, and retail complexes in immediate area.

1135hrs: FD still working on knocking down several large hot spots. Water pouring out of building. Defensive ops just coompleted, now offensive ops and inside the structure.Extreme heavy fire damage throughout the building. USAR operations in progress. FD just completed news conference.

1140hrs: No fatalities confirmed yet. 2 subjects transported to Brackenridge Hospital (Level I Trauma Center in Austin) with burns, 1 person unaccounted for. Emphasis that is PRELIMINARY information at this time.

1145hrs: Witnesses stating building was quickly evacuated. Another large hot spot in building is progressing.

1151hrs: NORAD has 2 F-16's patrolling area which were immediately launched after incident. Plane DID NOT originate from Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Possibly from smaller airport in the Parmer/Brushy Creek area.

12:07hrs: Plane reported a single engine small plane.

12:10hrs Fully involved single 2 story wood frame residence structure fire earlier in the day before the incident in north Austin linked to pilot.

1212: 200 people work for IRS office in building. IRS office deals with law enforcement and criminal tax issues.

1215: Strongly believed to be a criminal act.

1217hrs CST: Portion of building or floor expected to collapse per FD USAR.

1230: News conference at this time........Austin Police Chief Art Acevdeo asking public not jump to conclusions, this is an isolated incident, and many media reports are inaccurate. Investigation still ongoing. Only believed to be 2 injuries, with 1 person unaccounted for....HOWEVEVER......unaccounted for person may not have been at work or may have not been in the building...unknown status of pilot.........pilot also left a 6 page letter about the IRS on his website this morning.

1700: All secondary searches officially complete

1845: Two bodies have been recovered, one of the pilot, and one of the believed missing IRS employee. Everyone else is believed to be accounted for, and only 2 serious injuries, 1 male by 25% 2nd degree burns to the back to Brooks Army Medical Center Burn Unit in stable condition expected to make a good recovery, and 1 male with minor burns and smoke inhaltation. Several other walking wounded but obtained refusals and patients have not shown up at hosptials. Per the local news media and press conference.

21:38 FD will be on scene overnight on watch for hotspots or flare ups as well as structural integrity of building which will be dealt with tommorow (probable demolition).

Investigation has been turned over to the FBI and being treated as an assault on a federal offfcer AT THIS TIME.

*INFORMATION COMPILED FROM NEWS MEDIA, PRESS RELEASES, AND RADIO SCANNER. AREA VERY CLOSE TO MY RESIDENCE*