Small aircraft crashes into Manhattan high rise

NEW YORK, Oct 12: A small aircraft crashed into a building on Manhattan's Upper East Side today, emergency services said.

Police said they had no immediate reports of casualties and a US official said he had no reason to believe the crash was related to terrorism.

The aircraft, which the fire department said could be a helicopter, crashed on East 72nd St. and York Avenue, near the East River, various media reports said.

''It's really bad. Flames are shooting from the building. I was on my terrace and I saw it,'' said witness Tressa Octave, who lives two blocks away.

Live television coverage on US cable networks showed smoke and flames pouring from two upper floors of a high-rise building.

REUTERS