Hot Air is reporting that New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle may have been at the controls of the plane that crashed into a Manhattan appartment building earlier today:

WNBC4 just mentioned that Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle apparently applied to buy the plane in July. Wait — hold the phone. Lidle did actually purchase the plane, they’re saying now.

Was Cory Lidle flying the plane? Trying to impress his date by doing a little acrobatics over Manhattan? Standby.

Update: Fox is reporting that Lidle was indeed flying the plane. CNN quotes first responders as saying the pilot might have made a distress call before the crash.

WNBC4 says an official has confirmed that a member of the Yankees was onboard the plane. Now sources are saying that Lidle’s passport was found on the street.

Update: Wizbang writes:

From Fox News: we now have confirmation that Cory Lidle was on the plane and has been declared dead.