New York City crane catches fire, collapses into building

A construction crane caught fire, collapsed, and struck the side of another skyscraper before falling onto a rush-hour Manhattan street as terrified commuters ran for their lives.

A high-rise crane partially collapsed in New York’s busy Midtown area of Manhattan on Wednesday morning local time, slamming into a nearby building and sending concrete debris crashing to the street.

Six people, including two firefighters, suffered minor injuries when the construction crane’s arm collapsed shortly before 7:30am local time (9.30pm AEST) after a fire broke out in its operating car, officials said.

A crane burst into flames in New York. Picture: Supplied

Flames and smoke billow from a crane perched high above New York's midtown Manhattan. Picture: Supplied

Smoke covers Manhattan after a crane caught fire and collapsed. Picture: Supplied

Dramatic video footage posted on social media showed the arm smashing into a glass skyscraper across the road as residents ran for their lives to escape the falling debris.

New York Mayor Eric Adams said the accident could have been much worse. “We were extremely lucky this morning,” he told media.

“We’re also fortunate that first responders responded in such a manner and made the right evaluation of how to look at the fire and crisis we were presented with and came up with [the right solution].”

Just watched a crane fall and pummel a building on the other side of the block! #nyc#firepic.twitter.com/YFyaurRglN

— Jimmy 💃🏻 (@jimmy_farring) July 26, 2023

New York City Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Pfeifer said the crane was lifting 16 tons of concrete when its cables became weakened by the blaze.

He said the crane operator saw the fire and tried to extinguish it but the flames overwhelmed him and he had to leave the crane.

“The crane operator was able to get out and is safe,” Deputy Chief Pfeifer told reporters.

The fire department said it was investigating the incident which occurred on 10th Ave near the Hudson Yards development on the west side of Manhattan.

Six people were injured in the incident. Picture: Supplied

A crane burst into flames in New York although it is unclear what caused the blaze in the cabin area of the crane. Picture: Supplied

Firefighters battle a fire on a construction crane in New York. Picture: AFP

Firefighters fight a blaze that began in the cab of a crane in New York. Picture: Supplied

The top portion collapsed, striking a building across the street before crashing onto the ground below, according to cops and the footage.

Officials said the crane operator was there when the machinery went up in flames, but was unable to extinguish the fire.

Pedestrians scurried and passing cars beeped their horns in the seconds after the collapse, the footage shows.

Firefighters are ready with stretchers at the site of a construction crane fire and collapse in New York. Picture: AFP

Firefighters at the scene. The incident happened during morning rush hour. Picture: AFP

Four civilians and two firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries from the debris, authorities said.

At least three were hospitalised.

“Welcome to New York,” tourist Heidi Elmore tweeted, along with a video of the FDNY response. “Crane next to my hotel is on fire and collapsing so we had to evacuate.”

The NYPD urged New Yorkers to avoid the area.

“Please use alternate routes and expect traffic in the area,” the agency wrote.

The crane was emblazoned on the side with the name of Lomma Crane company, which is owned by James F. Lomma, who was acquitted of manslaughter and three other charges in connection with the deadly collapse of a crane on the Upper East Side in 2008.

Two workers were killed when a bearing cracked on a construction project, causing the heavy machinery to collapse.

In 2016, a crane collapsed in Lower Manhattan during wind gusts and falling snow, killing one person.

– with the New York Post

Originally published as New York City crane catches fire, collapses into building