Plane crash sparks security concerns in New York

NEW YORK, Oct 12 (Reuters) The death of a Yankees player whose small plane crashed into a high-rise Manhattan building has renewed concerns about New York's aviation security in a city still jittery after the September. 11 attacks.

Several politicians today called for an overhaul of the safety rules regarding private aircraft flying near Manhattan after a plane owned by Cory Lidle, a pitcher for the New York Yankees baseball team, crashed into a residential building in an apparent accident.

Under current rules, small aircraft can fly without filing a flight plan along two low-altitude corridors over the East River and Hudson River at lower than 1,100 feet (335 metres) without air traffic control contact. Many lawmakers want that changed.

''The idea that a plane or helicopter can fly 100 or 200 feet (30 or 60 metres) over a building in Manhattan took many New Yorkers by surprise and as a matter of common sense it needs to be changed,'' said U.S. congressman Anthony Weiner, calling for a permanent no-fly zone over Manhattan by small planes.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks when hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, many New Yorkers have become spooked at the mere sight of a plane passing over Manhattan.

Police and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of yesterday's crash.

Eyewitnesses and officials said the four-seat plane -- carrying Lidle, 34, and a flying instructor, who also died -- appeared to swerve out of control before crashing into the building and bursting into flames, causing the wreckage to spill onto the street below.

New York Gov. George Pataki said the Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates US aviation, should require all planes flying at low altitudes gain the authorisation of air traffic control until a review of the rules is completed.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is wary of any sweeping changes, noting that small air traffic, including sightseeing helicopters, bring business and tourism to the city.

''Having everybody controlled doesn't necessarily make it safer,'' Bloomberg told reporters today.

Some lawmakers called for the type of restrictions in place in Washington, which is permanently protected by a no-fly zone keeping planes like the one flown by Lidle 30 miles (50 km) outside the capital unless they have air traffic clearance.

For some New Yorkers the crash brought back memories of the September. 11 attacks.

''I thought, 'terrorists,' all over again,'' said Chris Foege, who saw the crash. ''All I could think of was 9/11.'' Another witness, Diane Tarantini, whose firefighter husband was called to Wednesday's crash said, ''It's very scary, it brings back all the images of Sept. 11 and the horror we went through on that day.'' REUTERS DH PM0316