AUSTIN, Feb. 18, 2010 (Reuters) — A small plane smashed into a seven-story federal building housing U.S. tax offices in Austin, Texas on Thursday and media reports said it may have been a deliberate attack.
Two people were taken to the hospital after the crash, which left the building in flames, and one person was believed to be missing, Austin fire officials said. The fate of the pilot was not immediately clear.
The incident renewed fears of domestic terrorism and gaps in security for private aircraft, although U.S. officials said they had no reason to believe that terrorism was involved.
CNN reported the pilot had set his own house on fire before taking off in the plane and crashing it into the building at about 10 a.m. CST (1600 GMT).
A federal law enforcement source said authorities believed the pilot to be Joseph Andrew Stack and that they were trying to verify that he left behind a long rambling suicide note.
A website published a note attacking the Internal Revenue Service signed by Joe Stack.
"Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let's try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well," the note said. It was not possible to determine the authenticity of the note, dated February 18, or its authorship.
The authorities were also investigating reports that Stack burned down his own house before taking off, the law enforcement source said.
Austin Police chief Art Acevedo declined to confirm details about the note but stressed that there was no threat to public safety. "This is an isolated incident here. There is no cause for alarm," he said at a televised news conference.
rest at http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre61h4ji-us-usa-planecrash-austin/
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