~SPECIAL REPORT: Yankees’ Pitcher Cory Lidle Killed in Plane Crash

UPDATE – 7:30 p.m. US/Central – October 11, 2006

Prayers of comfort and strength are being said for the family, friends and colleagues of Cory Lidle, especially for his wife, Melanie, and his 6-year-old son Christopher. Lidle, a pitcher for the New York Yankees Major League Baseball Team was killed today, along with his flight instructor when the small plane he was flying crashed into a Manhattan Apartment Building shortly after 3 p.m. US/Eastern time.

Prayers are also being said for the family and friends of Lidle’s flight instructor who was also killed in the crash. Prayers of healing and comfort are being said for 10 people, including 6 firemen who were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries received. (There were some new reports of 4 people killed, but only 2 have been confirmed at this time.)

“Small Aircraft Crashes Into New York City High Rise, Killing Yankees Pitcher Cory Lidle” – FOX News – News America Group – New York, New York, US – 11 October 2006

NEW YORK — A small plane carrying New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle crashed into a 50-story luxury building on Manhattan’s Upper East Side Wednesday, killing Lidle and an instructor, igniting a raging fire and initially trapping people on the floors above the point of impact.
     
New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner confirmed to FOX News that Lidle, 34, had died in the crash, leaving behind a wife and 6-year-old son.
     
“This is a terrible and shocking tragedy that has stunned the entire Yankees organization. I offer my deepest condolences and prayers to his wife Melanie, and son Christopher, on their enormous loss,” Steinbrenner said in a statement issued through his publicity officer.
     

SPECIAL REPORT: Airplane Crashes into a Manhattan Apartment Building UPDATE: Yankee Pitcher Cory Lidle May Be Among The 2 Known Deceased, plane registered to Lidle

UPDATE – 4:45 p.m. US/Central

PILOT OF CRASHED PLANE MAY BE YANKEE’S PITCHER CORY LIDLE; FAA: PLANE REGISTERED TO LIDLE; PASSPORT REPORTEDLY FOUND IN STREET

“Yanks’ Lidle Believed Among 2 Dead in Plane Crash – FAA: Plane Registered to Pitcher, Passport Found in Street” – Ch. 2 WCBS-TV (CBS) – CBS Corporation – New York, New York, US – 11 October 2006 – 5:32 p.m. US/Eastern

QUOTE:

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK A small plane with New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle aboard crashed into a 50-story condominium tower Wednesday on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, killing at least two people and raining flaming debris on sidewalks, authorities said. There was no immediate confirmation Lidle was among the dead.

A law enforcement official in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Lidle was on the plane. And Federal Aviation Administration records showed the single-engine plane was registered to the athlete, who just days ago — after the Yankees’ humiliating elimination from the playoffs — told reporters that he was getting his pilot’s license.

The official said he did not know whether Lidle was at the controls; at least one other person was aboard the four-seat aircraft.