- In what authorities describe as an apparent intentional act, a pilot flew a single-engine plane Thursday into a Northwest Austin office building that houses Internal Revenue Service offices, igniting a massive explosion, jolting terrified employees to the floor and triggering a massive federal investigation. The plane was registered to Andrew Joseph Stack III whose nearby home was on fire at roughly the same time. Austin firefighters search the second floor for remains of a missing worker above where the plane, laying in a crumbled heap, hit the side of the building.
A closer version shows the firefighters shifting through rubble looking for remains. You can see the floor sagging beneath them in what must be an anxious moment at best.
Curiouds onlookers pulled their cars off the road to gert a closer glimpse often taking pictures. An Austin police officer stops traffic to clear the roadway during rush hour traffic and many, many people parked and walked to watch the action and survey what was an incredible scene of violence in an otherwise calm city.
An Austin firefighter climbs down the ladder of an aerial unit after the fire was under control. The sprinkler system in the ceiling of the building continued to run for hours afterwards ensuring no flameups occurred.
With a staff of five photographers and one videojournalist we had all aspects of this story covered in a mater of minutes. My duty was mainly to bat cleanup so I stayed, and stayed and stayed on the scene into the night when officials brought in lights to illuminate the building for their investigation well into the night.
This is a photograph taken with an extremely long lens from across U.S. 183 highway of what remains from the airplane. I spoke with some plane mechanics taking pictures next me and they could not identify what part of the plane this is, although it looks like a wing. I do know this sort of thing doesn't happen in Austin and when I first heard the reports I was in disbelief. My thoughs and prayers go out to the families of those killed and injured in this deliberate act.
Photos by Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman
For complete coverage go to Plane Crash Coverage
For a more complete photo gallery go to Crash scene photos
Feb 19, 2010 | Tags: airplane crash, Andrew Joseph Stack, Austin plane crash, deliberate act, Echelon I building | Leave A Comment » | More photos from Ralph Barrera
I was driving to an assignment in Georgetown when I first saw the thick black smoke in the distance. I got a call from my editor, and was told to forget about my assignment in Georgetown, and instead photograph a house fire. It was a very big fire, and the house was still completely engulfed in flames when I arrived. I made this photo at 10 a.m.
Firefighters work to extinguish a house fire on Dapplegrey Lane in north Austin on Thursday Feb. 18, 2010. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Then unbelievably, I was told there was an even bigger news event unfolding not far away. There were reports that a plane had crashed into a building in the 9400 block of Research Boulevard in northwest Austin. So I left the house fire, which was still burning out of control, and headed a few miles away to the scene of the plane crash. On the way there I saw an even larger plume of black smoke. Someone on the radio said the building housed some IRS offices, and immediately I figured this was probably a deliberate act. I had to park my car across the highway quite a distance from the building. As soon as I parked I took this photo. It was at 10:30 a.m.
This northwest Austin building, which includes IRS offices, was struck by a plane on Thursday Feb. 18, 2010. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
It took me awhile to walk across the overpass and down the road and past a police checkpoint but eventually I got near the building. After taking a photo from there I transmitted two photos back to the Statesman. Then I decided to try to photograph some of the people who were affected by this event. I found Elizabeth Hogeda-Romo who was sitting on a curb behind the building. She was visibly shaken, and she said she witnessed the crash from an adjacent building. I took this photo at 11:20 a.m.
Elizabeth Hogeda-Romo rests on the curb near the building that was struck by a plane in north Austin on Thursday Feb. 18, 2010. She was in an adjecent building when the crash happened. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Later, some photojournalists were escorted closer to the front of the building for a very short time. I was down there for maybe two minutes. It was my first clear glimpse of the point of impact. The tail of the plane was visible and small fires were still burning inside the building I took this photo at 12:10 pm. Shortly afterward I was told the house I had photographed earlier belonged to Andrew Joseph Stack, allegedly the same person who flew the plane into the building. He deliberately set his own house on fire before attacking the IRS building.
Andrew Joseph Stack allegedly cashed his plane into this IRS building in northwest Austin on Thursday Feb. 18, 2010. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin Ameican-Statesman
Feb 18, 2010 | Tags: Andrew Joseph Stack, IRS plane crash Austin Texas | 2 Comments » | More photos from Jay Janner
Pflugerville High School's Nneka Enemkpali is ready to lead her team into the playoffs. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Feb 16, 2010 | Tags: Nneka Enemkpali, Pflugerville Panthers basketball | Leave A Comment » | More photos from Jay Janner
Vera Youngbloom and Larkin Miller met over a game of Mexican Train dominoes at the West Rural Community Center in Oak Hill, where they still socialize. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Romance bloomed late for this Austin couple who got married at 83.
Read all about it here.
My favorite part:
Vera kept her last name.
“We both already have grave markers with our names on them, so we couldn’t change it,” Larkin said.
Feb 14, 2010 | Leave A Comment » | More photos from Jay Janner
Texas fans making up the Stampede in the O-Zone jump on the bleachers to make noise during first half action of the Nebraska game at the Frank Erwin Center where the Horns defeated the Cornhuskers 91-51 in a blowout victory.
Texas' Avery Bradley takes a lob from teammate J'Covan Brown and slams it over the defense of Nebraska's Sek Henry for a basket and a foul during first half action. Bradley led all scorers with 25 points.
Texas fans lining the "O'Zone" try to distract Nebraska's Ben Nelson as he shoots a free throw during second half action.
Texas' basketball mascot "Hook 'Em" plays with fans as he readies to launch a free t-shirt to the crowds during a timeout against Nebraska's in second half action .
Texas players gather before the start of their conference gamer against Nebraska at the Frank Erwin Center led by Dexter Pittman, left, and Jai Lucas, right.
Cub Scout Pack 405 from Georgetown, TX. were the honor guard carrying the flags for the playing of the National Anthem during Scout Day at the Frank Erwin Center.
For a complete gallery of images Photos
Photos by Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman
Feb 13, 2010 | Tags: Big 12 basketball, Erwin Center, Texas vs Nebraska, University of Texas mens basketball | Leave A Comment » | More photos from Ralph Barrera
Amy Li, left, 5, and Vivian Lang, 6, of the Golden Peacock Chinese Dance Team watch the performances during the Chinese New Year celebration at the Asian American Cultural Center on Saturday Feb. 13, 2010. 2010 is the Year of the Golden Tiger. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Kevin Leong of the Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team, participates in the Dragon Dance at the conclusion of the Chinese New Year celebration at the Asian American Cultural Center on Saturday Feb. 13, 2010. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Feb 13, 2010 | Tags: Chinese New Year, Golden Peacock Chinese Dance Team, Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team | Leave A Comment » | More photos from Jay Janner
- The Texas State Capitol is under a shroud of mist from a nearby chilling station at San Jacinto Blvd. and 13th St. as overnight temperatures drop to near freezing causing the warm air from the chilling station to meet the cold air from the outside temperatures turning the spray into a fine mist as light winds drift the spray over the Capitol.
Photo by Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman
Feb 12, 2010 | Tags: chilling station, shroud of mist, Texas State Capitol | 1 Comment » | More photos from Ralph Barrera
