CNN: Austin plane crash was deliberate

UPDATE: Mea culpa, I got a detail wrong earlier. The authorities are now saying the plane involved was NOT stolen. Hat tip to reader Steph, who got it right first!

UPDATE: Did the pilot leave behind a manifesto? A blog called Business Insider thinks they've found one. Keep in mind -- this is NOT verified at this point. But it's basically a rant against the IRS, which had kept offices in the targeted building. Authorities say they believe a man named Joseph Andrew Stack is the owner of the plane and the house that was set on fire. I'm not sure how that squares with reports that the plane was stolen.

I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different. I am finally ready to stop this insanity. Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let’s try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well.

(Hat Tip: Many thanks, oudivegirl!)

PREVIOUS: CNN is quoting a federal official who says that an airplane that hit a seven-story building in Austin was deliberately crashed. Not only that -- the plane was stolen, and the pilot had set his own house on fire before taking flight, the channel reports.

Not to read too much into it, but the office building does house some federal workers, including those from the IRS. The Austin American-Statesman says that it could only find two people who've been taken to the hospital with injuries. It's not clear how many people were hurt or killed by the crash.

The Star has a gallery of photos from the scene. And here's an AP video.

Smoke billows from a seven-story building after a small private plane crashed into the building in Austin, Texas on Thursday Feb. 18, 2010. (AP Photo/Jack Plunkett)

Comments

[Searching]

So, a guy sets his house on fire, steals a plane and flies it into a Federal building..
What do you have to do to have something declared an act of terrorism these days?

Somebody, is saying icksnay on the errortay on my atchway....

[steph]

he didnt steal the plane it was his plane

[Elrond of Rivendell]

Its an IRS building. Maybe a disgruntled taxpayer?

[joshh]

What are you talking about? This is probably a crazy tea-party, right-wing, anti-government loon. You know the same people that Bush stopped the FBI from watching long ago, because they were his base.

[Searching]

It doesnt matter what party he belongs too, it is terrorism. Geez.. try and stick to the point.

[James Hart]

Elrond: That's what I wonder, too. This wasn't a particularly big building or a landmark of some kind. So why else would it be targeted? The IRS link makes sense.

steph: Do you know who's saying that, so I can link to them? I got my info from CNN, but it's so early in the story, they might have that detail wrong.

[Dave]

Sounds like he was pissed at the IRS

[Searching]

And according to the stories I have read, he stole the plane, authorities were notified when it took off without a flight plan.

Where do you get your info that it was his plane?

[Kim]

Sounds like a tax protester to me.

We had a famous case like that near here several decades ago.

[Searching]

Every where I have seen so far, says he stold the plane.

[PAT]

LORD HAVE MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS HAS GOT TO STOP. PEOPLE ARE SICK IN THE MIND!!!!

[Diane Lynch]

The pilot, his family and all those who have been effected are in my thoughts. It's always a tragedy when a troubled person falls through the cracks. I wonder what could have made the difference for this pilot?

[adam]

elrond, your an idiot. this doesnt have to do with politics. some people are just sick in the head.

[oudivegirl]

Not sure if there's truth here, but check out this rant posted today: "The Insane Manifesto Of Austin Texas Crash Pilot Joseph Andrew Stack" http://www.businessinsider.com/joseph-andrew-stacks-insane-manifesto-2010-2

[James Hart]

Adam: I don't think Elrond is an idiot. I don't think he'd disagree that anybody who'd do this is sick in the head. But -- and keeping in mind that police still need to investigate -- I wouldn't be surprised if the guy had an anti-government motive.

[1337j00]

"What are you talking about? This is probably a crazy tea-party, right-wing, anti-government loon. You know the same people that Bush stopped the FBI from watching long ago, because they were his base."

Possibly. Or he had underlying tax/mental problems and something drove him to this extreme.

[aw]

embeddedart.com

Supposedly written by him...?

[T. Lewis]

Heard his wife worked in the building...

[Marie]

It's not terrorism. The theory of an upset taxpayer is more likely. Terrorists target places that would result in major casualties or in situations that are shocking. Unfortunately planes crashing into buildings aren't as shocking as they once were due to recent history.
Still, this is very tragic and my prayers go out to the victims and their families.

[adam]

im sorry elrond, josh is the idiot

[onesunrise]

Look up other reports, things will become clearer. He set his own house on fire with his daughter and wife inside. He had had a long running fued with IRS. Georgetown airport is only ten to fifteen miles from the site....

[Scott]

Not that it matters which side of the isle he is on, he was upset that the healthcare debate WAS stalled. (According to the link below.) He was also NOT fond of capitalism. We should keep his family and the families of the victims in our prayers...
http://www.businessinsider.com/joseph-andrew-stacks-insane-manifesto-2010-2

[Sarah]

I love that this guy was disgruntled about taxes and money, but set fire to his home, which will completely screw his wife over, leaving her not only homeless and husbandless, but also without any insurance money or a place to stay. Nice guy. Very sensible.

What happened to quietly hanging yourself or taking sleeping pills?

[Chris]

Lets wait for the facts here, this is mostly like a staged attack by our corrupt government.....people wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Elrond of Rivendell]

Sarah

Simple.

That isn't dramatic an dsensational.

This way he goes out in a blaze of glory.

His meaningless life now becomes big news.

Finally, everyone is paying attention to him.

[Tvi]

Elrod's right. I'll bet we'll discover that this guy was just another Glenn Beck inspired doucebag. This is what these insane, misinformed tea-bagging right-wing, anti-government lunatics are all about.

[J]

does anyone on here actually have any facts to back up what they are saying?

[Elrond of Rivendell]

Elrond never mentioned tea-baggers. I know, cuz I'm Elrond.

[Scott]

May I quote Joe?
"The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.

The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed."
Joe Stack (1956-2010)

Perhaps he was inspired by Tvi?

http://www.businessinsider.com/joseph-andrew-stacks-insane-manifesto-2010-2

[jay]

Wow! what does political party have to do with this story? Sterotype much, ELROND? There are PLENTY of NUTTY Left & Right wingers out there... I tend to think this has nothing to do with Governement but a disgrunted employee or upset husband... or something like that... he was undoubtly distrubed.
My prayers go out to everyone involved.

[Searching]

t's not terrorism. The theory of an upset taxpayer is more likely. Terrorists target places that would result in major casualties or in situations that are shocking. Unfortunately planes crashing into buildings aren't as shocking as they once were due to recent history.
Still, this is very tragic and my prayers go out to the victims and their families.

Posted by: Marie | Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 12:34 PM

You mean, targets like large business buildings in the middle of a workday?

As far as planes crashing into buildings not so shocking..
Do you mean since the TERRORIST attacks in NY, where people stole planes and crashed them into buildings

Just checking....

[Chuck McRizzo]

I agree with the tea party movement going on now and I have no desire to do anyone else harm, ever. So does that make me an even crazier right winger?

Anyway whoever pointed out the wife angle is a genius. Think abot it, wife can't work, wife has no place to live, insurance won't cover the fire since it's an intentional act. Unless they have a huge nest-egg, which I doubt, this lady is totally hosed.

[Andrew]

Sarah, that is simply ridiculous... knock knock Neo...
and name calling? really?
people are hurt, or dead,
I've NEVER read so many bull$#!& theories in my life.
Ever hear of occam's razor?
-=A

[Peggy Smith]

His wife was having an affair with the CEO of the IRS. Maybe it was her UNCLE SAM !! Burn her up in the house and steal UNCLE SAMS plane and crash it into his office !!
WOW.....his plane, he stole the plane, he was mad at the HEALTH CARE, the tea party, he was a CRAZY right wing republican. Dang what else can we all say or come up with?
Hey I cant wait to see what kind of story I see on the news tonight...I will keep everyone updated !!

[Michael]

"Insae, misinformed tea-bagging righ-wing, anti-government lunatics" Now thats a classic statement, wake up open your eyes do your own research......this government wants nothing more than to control you, your thoughts and emotions....you really think they just found this letter and now its all over the web....WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is all staged for you to get upset and angry and give you that exact same feeling that makes you say "Insae, misinformed tea-bagging righ-wing, anti-government lunatics" when all along your being blinded

[Michael]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc-7shU

Get a taste of reality

[Michael]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc-7shU

[rhino]

mind control victim ? can you say manchurian candidate?

[Michael]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc-7shU

[James Hart]

Guys: Let's keep the name-calling to a minimum, please.

It's OK to theorize about what happened, based on the reports that we're getting. But it's also good to remember that -- whether this was a right-winger, left-winger, no-winger -- it's not fair to say this guy is the living embodiment of everybody who thinks like him. The vast majority of Tea Partiers do not want to burn down Congress.

[rhino]

mind control victim ? can you say manchurian candidate?

[Dan]

What was that link again, Michael?

[David]

His little manifesto was both anti-government and anti-capitalist, so that doesn't really fit the bill for a left winger OR a right winger, but sort of a combination of both. So it really isn't in anyone's place to attribute this to any certain group.

[Jon]

So... this guy is obviously crazy, but I understand why he feels the way he does. An excuse to commit an act of terror? Of course not, but if you read his entire suicide note you will get the picture. I am in no way sympothizing with this cowardly act. Violence is NOT the answer. However, I too am tired of corporate America and the fed helping each other out. I'm sick of the Rockafellers and the Federal Reserve system. I'm sick of contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, etc. making hundreds of millions on GWOT, making it harder to end a war that's impossible to win. Mr. Stack's act will obviously not accomplish his goal, though. There's no real solution to this problem, in my opinion.

[Scott]

Michael, I'm not really sure what you are trying to say about the letter; however, it states he was a communist... I knew someone who committed suicide and I was able read his thoughts 15 minutes after I found out that he was dead? (MySpace) Did the government post items to my friend's MySpace page?

[Michael]

Fall of the Repulic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc-7shU

The Obama Deception
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw

Two very good films that wake you up to what is really going on, you can watch both of them on youtube just copy and paste the link on your browser

[jdub]

http://embeddedart.com/

Read his letter

[Elrond of Rivendell]

jay

Elrond never mentioned political parties. I know, cuz I'm Elrond.

[Chuck McRizzo]

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Someone woke up ALL the crazies today.

[Scott]

Just keep the families in our thoughts and prayers... I'm out of here...