Jet crashes in New York

5.30 am - UPDATED REPORT

NEW YORK - An American Airlines Airbus A-300 passenger jet has crashed while taking off from John F. Kennedy International Airport, ploughing through homes in the surrounding Queens neighbourhood.

The Federal Aviation Administration said flight 587 crashed about 8km from the airport after taking off on its way to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The plane was carrying 246 passengers and nine crew. It crashed at approximately 3.15 am New Zealand time.

There was no immediate indication of what caused the crash, which came two months after four hijack attacks that involved planes from American and United airlines.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police said all three New York area airports -- Kennedy, Newark International Airport and La Guardia -- were shut down after the crash.

Smoke could be seen from as far away as the United Nations in Manhattan.

A New York Fire Department spokesman said 44 units and 198 firefighters have rushed to the scene in the Rockaways section of Queens.

Mayor Rudolph Giuliani told CNN that President Bush had been informed of the crash and was "on top of it." He added: "We're just being tested one more time and we're on top of it."

Stocks raced lower in early morning trading after the crash rekindled memories of the Sept. 11 attacks that rocked the nation. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial average tumbled about 1.9 per cent to 9,423 points. H British Prime Minister Tony Blair said his "thoughts and prayers" were with the American people.

"We have literally just heard reports of an airplane which has gone down in New York," Blair said. "All I would like to say at this juncture is of course that our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and with the American people."

"We simply don't know any more details than that at this time. ... I don't think it is sensible of us, on the basis of the information which have, to speculate further," Blair said.

- REUTERS

* The New Zealand Herald will publish a special edition today with updated coverage of the New York city plane crash. This special edition will be on sale in Auckland and main provincial cities at midday.

Map of crash area

American Airlines information (from within NZ):
0168 1 800 245 0999