An Aircraft Accident, Or......

[Lost Cause]

An individual act of terrorism? I guess the investigation will determine the motive of the pilot, still.............


MIAMI -- A small plane crashed into the Federal Reserve Bank Building at NW 41 Street and 90 Avenue near Doral in Miami earlier tonight, killing the pilot and forcing the evacuation of more than 100 people attending a holiday season party, authorities said. No one inside the building was injured.

Officials say the plane approached the one-story building from the north and struck the front of the building at 8:37 p.m. It then exploded and burst into flames. The aircraft was described as a small single-engine plane, possibly an experimental aircraft.

A fire broke out, but there appeared to be no structural damage to the building. Some windows were broken and some charring was seen. The building is about 3 miles west of Miami International Airport.

"When we first came out of and walked around the side, it was really hard to determine that it was a plane," said vice president and branch manager Jay Curry, who was attending the party at the time of the crash.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were quick to respond to the scene and they put down foam on the area to contain the fire.

Miami International is close by, but "typically this type of plane would not be in this vicinity at this trajectory," said Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue spokesman Louie Fernandez said. It was too early to tell if the crash was deliberate, "but we're going to examine every angle," he said.

There is a helicopter landing pad on the other side of the Federal Reserve Building so police say the small plane may have been trying to land in the area.

At least one person has been confirmed dead. No word if any other bodies have been recovered.

The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.

The building also houses the Miami bureau of The Associated Press.

There are some road closures in the area. Police have blocked off the road at 107th Avenue.

 

[phrodeau]

Suicide bomber - bomb = suicide.

 

[takingchances42]

A plane with aviation fuel is a bomb, or perhaps more accurately, a guided missile.

 

[Weird Harold]

A plane with aviation fuel is a bomb, or perhaps more accurately, a guided missile.

The plane was a "Four Winds 192" which is a small kit-built plane that probably uses premium unleaded gasoline -- a pretty fair fire-starter, but hardly a bomb. I doubt that it holds as much fuel as typical SUV and weighs about 1/4 as much.

 

[SINthysist]

A veritable firecracker...

 

[bknight2602]

Is there a terrorist around every corner?

 

[SINthysist]

In Israel maybe...

 

[bknight2602]

LOL, well this happened in Miami, I was just questioning the direction of the thread!

 

[SINthysist]

We lacked vigilance for so long that now we look extra hard. So first decision is no longer accident, murder, or suicide, but accident, murder, suicide, or terrorism...

When my cats all died, I suspected West Nile Virus !

 

[weed]

Don't you know the Norwalk virus was planted by terrorists?

 

[weed]

 

[SINthysist]

Terrorists are masquerading as uncooked Oysters?

 

[SINthysist]

2 views:

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002
Facts About the Norwalk Virus Infection Striking Cruise Ships


Norwalk virus infection is an intestinal illness that often occurs in outbreaks. Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses are increasingly being recognized as leading causes of foodborne disease in the United States.

The viruses are passed in the stool of infected persons. People get infected by swallowing stool-contaminated food or water. Outbreaks in the United States are often linked to raw oysters.

Infected people usually recover in 2 to 3 days without serious or long-term health effects. To prevent Norwalk virus infection: 1) wash hands with soap and warm water after toilet visits and before preparing or eating food; 2) cook all shellfish thoroughly before eating; 3) wash raw vegetables before eating; and 4) dispose of sewage in a sanitary manner.

What is Norwalk virus infection?

Norwalk virus infection is an intestinal illness that often occurs in outbreaks. What is the infectious agent that causes Norwalk virus infection? Norwalk virus infection is caused by the Norwalk virus. The virus was first identified in 1972 after an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in Norwalk, Ohio. Later, other viruses with similar features were described and called Norwalk-like viruses. These have since been classified as members of the calicivirus family.

Where is Norwalk virus found?

Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses are found worldwide. Humans are the only known hosts. The viruses are passed in the stool of infected persons.

How do people get Norwalk virus infection?

People get Norwalk virus infection by swallowing food or water that has been contaminated with stool from an infected person. Outbreaks in the United States are often linked to eating raw shellfish, especially oysters and clams. Shellfish become contaminated via stool from sick food handlers or from raw sewage dumped overboard by recreational and/or commercial boaters. Contaminated water, ice, eggs, salad ingredients, and ready-to-eat foods are other sources of infection.

Who is at risk for Norwalk virus infection?

Anyone can get Norwalk virus infection, but it may be more common in adults and older children.

What are the signs and symptoms of Norwalk virus infection?

Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Stomach cramps Severe illness or hospitalization is uncommon. Infected persons usually recover in 2 to 3 days without serious or long-term health effects.

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear? Symptoms usually appear in 1 to 2 days after swallowing contaminated food or water.

How is Norwalk virus infection diagnosed? Laboratory diagnosis is difficult. Diagnosis is often based on the combination of symptoms and the short time of illness.

What is the treatment for Norwalk virus infection? No specific treatment is available. Persons who are severely dehydrated might need rehydration therapy.

How common is Norwalk virus infection? Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses are increasingly being recognized as leading causes of foodborne disease in the United States. However, since no routine diagnostic test is available, the true prevalence is not known. Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses have been linked to outbreaks of intestinal illness on cruise ships and in communities, camps, schools, institutions, and families.

Many oyster-related outbreaks of intestinal illness linked to Norwalk-like viruses have been reported in Louisiana, Florida, Maryland, and other states where oyster harvesting is common. In 1993, 73 people in Louisiana and about 130 others in the United States who ate oysters from Louisiana became ill. A malfunctioning sewage system was the cause of an outbreak in 1996. An outbreak in 1997 was linked to sewage from oyster-harvesting boats.

How can Norwalk virus be prevented? Wash hands with soap and warm water after toilet visits and before preparing or eating food. Cook all shellfish thoroughly before eating. Wash raw vegetables before eating. Dispose of sewage in a sanitary manner. Food handlers with symptoms of Norwalk-like illness should not prepare or touch food. This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health-care provider. If you have any questions about the disease described above, consult a health-care provider.

SOURCE: Association of State and Territorial Directors of Health Promotion and Public Health Education







Cruise Ship Terrorism?
Christopher Ruddy
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002
Terrorism can't be behind the spate of cruise ship virus outbreaks.
Nope. Impossible. That's the verdict of our officials in Washington.

"There's nothing that we've seen thus far to suggest this is any sort of bioterrorism," Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the AP. "Though it's not common that we see these outbreaks of this sort of magnitude, it's certainly not unheard of."

What's their proof?

They have none, really. Just their guess.

Last week I spoke with a very prominent Washington journalist, who suggested the cruise ship outbreaks may be a dry run by terrorists before they use more deadly viruses.

His surmise was made before another two ships, including Carnival's Fascination, returned to port carrying as many as 170 ill passengers.

The passengers on Fascination were hit with the Norwalk virus, a gastrointestinal virus that has been around for decades. But it has never seemed to target cruise ships as it has in the past several weeks.

So far, more than 1,000 passengers have been stricken by the virus while on cruise ships.

Holland America's The Amsterdam ship was struck several times with the virus. Decontamination has not seemed to work.

Disney has spent millions on its ship, the Magic, hoping to decontaminate it once and for all.

So far three ships have been hit hard (apparently others have had smaller outbreaks). All three ships were operated by different cruise lines and all sailed from different ports.

Still, the feds are firm in their conclusion. The Miami Herald reported that "CDC officials have said there is no evidence that the cruise ship outbreaks are the work of terrorists."

Still, they don't have any evidence that it isn't.

Let's not forget that this is the same CDC that that has yet to say boo about the West Nile virus, though scads of evidence points to terrorism.

Dr. Ken Alibek, former head of the Russian bioweapons program, thinks so. And so does Sen. Patrick Leahy, who recently said credible evidence points to West Nile as a test of our defenses to bioterrorism.

Sad to say, the American public is the last to know. The media won't carry any discussion of West Nile as a bioweapon. They practically censored any discussion of the snipers being Muslim terrorists. And now the cruise ship outbreaks.

Now is neither the time for censorship of important matter nor the time for hysteria. While we shouldn't jump to any conclusions about the Norwalk outbreaks, we should not immediately exclude terrorism.

How about keeping an open mind, following the evidence, asking good questions. Even if it isn't terrorism, why not use these outbreaks as a test to see what we can learn from them.

 

[Diablogrl]

the current FAA investigation is saying its an accident...although that might change before I wake up tomorrow.

 

[Lost Cause]

Whatever...

I swear sometimes some of you......
The news is the news, it said, 1. That type of plane wouldn't be flying that air traffic path. 2. It hit a government building in the front, main entrance-heavy foot traffic. (Impact forces can't be measured until impact) 3. The last batch of terrorist aircraft students were in.......Florida!

 

[Monazwx]

Sadly, it's Florida.
Any and everything happens here.

Could be just an unfortunate occurance.

 

[Lost Cause]

Precisely!

Thankyouthankyouthankyou!