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Plane crashed in World Trade Center

By WILLIAM REILLY

NEW YORK, Sept. 11 -- Aircraft crashed into each of the towers of the World Trade Center, causing flames and smoke to pour from the landmark structure.

Shortly before 9 a.m., local media in New York reported that a plane flew into the north side of one of the buildings.

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About 20 minutes later, a small plane crashed into the east side of the second tower, causing flames to shoot up the side of the building.

New York City Police radio said all areas considered possible targets for terrorist actions were being evacuated. The Federal Aviation Administration said it had no information that the incident was an act of terrorism, though President Bush said it was an "apparent terrorist attack."

Police radio reported that the three major airports in the New York City area -- JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, N.J. -- have suspended operations. There were also unconfirmed reports that the FBI had word of a plane hijacking in the region.

The World Trade Center was the target of a terrorist attack on Feb. 26, 1993, when a bomb exploded in a basement garage of the structure. Six people were killed and more than 1,000 others were injured. Six Arab men were convicted for the bombing. They claimed to be retaliating against U.S. support for the Israeli government.

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On July 28, 1945, an Army B-25 piloted by Lt. Col. William Smith was flying through New York. He dropped altitude because of heavy fog. Smith managed to avoid several buildings before he hit the north side of the Empire State Building at about the 79th floor. A total of 14 people -- 11 office workers and three people on the plane -- were killed and 26 others were injured. While the structural integrity of the building was not affected, damage totaled about $1 million.

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