Updated: Small Plane Flies Into Austin Texas Office Building

Upset with the IRS, a lone pilot intentionally flew his small plane into an office building that houses the agency on Thursday, killing himself and one other while injuring several. The smoke from the crash could be seen for miles.

AUSTIN, TX (Catholic Online) - The name of pilot of the small plane which crashed into the Texas office building is Joseph Andrew Stack. He was a 53-year-old software engineer who was a texas resident. He is now confirmed to have been killed in the crash. Stack took off in a single-engine Piper Cherokee from an airport in Georgetown, TX, which is located about 25 miles North of Austin. According to the Associated Press, he did not file a flight plan. According to witnesses, he flew low over the Austin skyline, coming near some apartment complexes before flying into the government building.He left a rambling "Manifesto" detailing his disgust with the Internal Revenue Service with whom he was in an ongoing dispute. He also details further disagreements he had with other public policy issues. In part, he wrote, "I have had all I can stand... I choose not to keep looking over my shoulder at `big brother' while he strips my carcass."

The "Manifesto", though available online for a short time, has now been removed by authorities. It is clear from its introductory language that it was a suicide note and the act was deliberate. The entire affair is now being investigated as an intentional crime by Federal authorities. All indications are that Stack targeted the IRS offices with his plane. It is reported that he also set fire to his own home before leaving to secure to commit the crime which took his own life.

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A seven story Federal Building housing, among other tenants, the Internal revenue Service, was the target of what appears to have been an intentional crash of a small plane Thursday morning. The plane hit the lower floor of the building. Given the nature of the tenants in the building and the times in which we live, the first fear, after concern for the loss of life and injuries, is whether the crash was an act was terrorism. The smoke from the crash could be seen for miles. Two people are unaccounted for but there are no clear reports on whether anyone is dead. The Austin Statesman reported: "According to an FBI agent who asked not to be identified because he isn´t authorized to release information, the incident is being investigated as an accident, although eyewitnesses said the plane seemed to come in at full throttle. He said the plane was out of Waco and that Federal Aviation Administration officials are en route to the scene. "The agent said it was believed the plane had come from Waco, and that witnesses said it had hit the building at full-throttle. FBI sources said that the eyewitness accounts saying that the plane did not slow down is making some authorities wonder if it was an intentional act. "FBI spokesman Bill Carter said the building hit by a plane at the Echelon office complex did not contain an FBI office. While the FBI has an office at the complex, the plane did not crash into that particular building, Carter said." Fox news reported: "An NTSB official told Fox News that they are investigating this as an intentional act, and said it appears the pilot set his own house on fire and then got in his plane and flew it into the building. An NTSB spokesman, however, told FoxNews.com that "we can't confirm any of that." ABC News reported: "Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was promptly briefed on the crash", DHS spokesman Matt Chandler told ABC News.
 
"The Secretary is aware of the situation in Austin. We do not yet know the cause of the plane crash. At this time, we have no reason to believe there is a nexus to criminal or terrorist activity. We are in the process of coordinating with state officials and other federal partners to gather more information. At this time, we will defer additional questions to local officials and the FAA," Chandler said. Norad spokesperson John Cornelio told ABC News that two F-16's jets were launched from Ellington Field in Houston after the plane hit the building as "a prudent precaution consistent with our response to recent similar air incidents." The jets are currently flying a combat air patrol over Austin, Cornelio said." Information on casualties and injuries are not yet available.

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