Crane Spins, Debris Falls From Midtown Skyscraper

Update, 9 a.m. Friday: As of Friday morning, the following streets remained closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic: Sixth Avenue between 56th and 58th streets, as well as 56th through 58th streets between Fifth and Seventh avenues.

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — A construction crane began to spin atop a Midtown skyscraper Thursday amid high winds, while debris began raining down onto the street below, forcing authorities to block nearby streets and reroute trains.

The crane began swinging shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday evening at 111 West 57th Street, an 84-story supertall skyscraper currently under construction on the "billionaire's row" stretch of high-rises.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, but witness reports showed large pieces of debris falling from the building. It was unclear whether the debris was related to the crane's motion.

Here’s the moment two large pieces of debris from the building under construction at 111 W 57th St in NYC, were knocked off by a crane “windmilling” during serious winds tonight. The building is 85 stories tall. This is re-recorded from a live feed I did here earlier. pic.twitter.com/uqlCsWJtyC
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) October 29, 2020

#BREAKING: huge construction crane swinging wildly at top of mega high rise under construction on 57th and 6th. Reports of debris in street. Lots of streets closed. #abc7ny pic.twitter.com/fwWS21E8h7
— Josh Einiger (@JoshEiniger7) October 29, 2020

Authorities had blocked off the area between 55th and 59th streets and Madison and Eigth Avenues, City Councilmember Keith Powers tweeted shortly after 8 p.m., adding that the crane operator was securing equipment.

F trains began bypassing the 57th Street station in both directions, while N, Q and R trains bypassed the 57th Street-7th Avenue stations in both directions.

In an eerie coincidence, the incident occurred eight years to the day after high winds caused another crane to collapse and dangle perilously on top of One57, a skyscraper on the same block of 57th Street, during Hurricane Sandy.

Please avoid the midtown west area while emergency teams respond to a report of debris falling from a building on West 57th St.
— NYCT Bus. Wear a Mask. (@NYCTBus) October 29, 2020

Service Update:

F trains are bypassing 57 St in both directions.

N, Q and R trains are bypassing 57 St-7 Av in both directions.

There is no W train service between Astoria-Ditmars Blvd and Whitehall St-South Ferry in both directions. https://t.co/kThKtFnK7M
— NYCT Subway. Wear a Mask. (@NYCTSubway) October 30, 2020

FDNY Activity: Expect traffic delays, road closures & emergency personnel near 57th Street & 6th Avenue, Manhattan. Use alternate routes.
— NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) October 29, 2020