A small plane crashed into a 50-story condominium tower Wednesday on Manhattan's Upper East Side, raining flaming debris onto the sidewalks below and rattling New Yorkers' nerves five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. Police said at least two people were killed.

The FBI and the Homeland Security Department said there was no evidence it was a terrorist attack. "The initial indication is that there is a terrible accident," Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said. Nevertheless, fighter jets were scrambled over U.S. cities as a precaution, the Pentagon said.

The two deaths were confirmed by the city police. But there was no word yet on injuries linked to the crash on an overcast October afternoon and the Federal Aviation Administration said it was too early to determine what type of aircraft was involved or what might have caused the crash.

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Large crowds gathered at the crash scene in the upscale New York neighborhood, with many people in tears and others trying to reach loved ones by cell phone. Mayor Michael Bloomberg went to the site, where parts of the fuselage were falling to the ground.

Christine Monaco, a New York spokeswoman for the FBI, said there was no indication of terrorism in connection with the plane that slammed into the building. FAA spokesman Jim Peters said all three New York City-area airports were operating normally.

The aircraft struck the 20th floor of the building on East 72nd Street, said Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi. The crash ignited a four-alarm fire in the building, with 39 fire units and 168 firefighters responding.

Richard Drutman, a professional photographer who lives on the building's 11th floor, said he was speaking on the telephone when he felt the building shake.

"There was a huge explosion. I looked out my window, and saw what appeared to be pieces of wings, on fire, falling from the sky," Drutman said.

He and his girlfriend quickly evacuated the building.

Other witnesses described a scene of chaos on the ground.

"It's a mob scene with police and helicopters circling," said Sandy Teller, watching from his apartment a block away. "There's a dozen ambulances and lots of firefighters waiting on 72nd, on the corner. There's lots of stretchers
ready, gurneys. And lots of emergency people waiting."

The crash rekindled fears about a repeat of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks when two hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center in what was the worst terrorist strike in U.S. history.

Sirens echoed across the east side of Manhattan as emergency workers rushed to the scene. The crash triggered a loud bang. Broken glass and debris was strewn around the neighborhood.

The condominium tower - The Belaire Condo - was built in the late 1980s and located near Sotheby's auction house. The building has 183 apartments, many of which sell for more than $1 million.

Several lower floors of the building are occupied by doctors and administrative offices, as well as guest facilities for family members of patients at the Hospital for Special Surgery, hospital spokeswoman Phyllis Fisher said.

No patients were in the high-rise building and operations at the hospital a block away were not affected, Fisher said. The Hospital for Special Surgery specializes in orthopedic operations.