9/11 Plane Part Discovered In NYC Was From Wing
The 9/11 plane part discovered in lower Manhattan last week was actually a section of wing from one of the hijacked aircraft that crashed into the twin towers in 2001.
The piece, which measures five feet long, is a trailing edge flap support from a Boeing 767, according to police. It is located close to the fuselage of the plane and helps secure wing flaps that move in and out. It also aids in regulating the speed of the aircraft.
When the plane part was discovered last week, investigators initially thought it was part of the landing gear because both sections have similar-looking hydraulics.
Boeing also confirmed to police that the part comes from one of its 767 airliners — the planes used by terrorists to slam into the twin World Trade Center towers on 9/11, ultimately causing them to collapse.
Workers discovered the part on Wednesday during a building inspection. The part is wedged between a luxury high rise apartment building and a mosque that prompted protests and national debate about Islam when it was announced in 2010.
Wreckage from the World Trade Center disaster has been discovered on and near the buildings in the past. This time, the 9/11 plane part was discovered by a roof inspector. The inspector called 911 and police documented the debris with photos.
The piece of twisted metal is jammed in an 18-inch-wide passageway between the two buildings, which is also home to trash and other debris. The plane part is about five feet tall, 17 inches wide, and four feet long. Police added that the part will be moved to a more secure location sometime this week. After that, they will work to determine where the piece’s permanent home will be.
In the past, similar pieces have been treated as historical artifacts. The New York State Museum in Albany has a large landing gear piece in its collection. The piece fell through the roof of the mosque to the basement. It was placed in the museum in 2002.
The chief medical examiner’s office is also looking through the debris for possible human remains.
[Image via Twitter]
