Wife of Texas man with IRS grudge who crashed plane into office expresses sorrow for victims

Wife of Texas man with IRS grudge expresses sorrow

AUSTIN, Texas — A spokesman for the wife of the Texas pilot who slammed his plane into an Austin office building says she’s sorry for everyone affected by the tragedy.

Rayford Walker says he’s a spokesman for Joseph Stack’s family. He read a statement from Stack’s wife, Sheryl Stack, while standing in front of a house across the street from the Stack home. The Stack home was set on fire Thursday before Joseph Stack crashed his plane into the building.

In the statement, Sheryl Stack thanks her friends and family and offers her “sincerest sympathy” for the victims and their families. She also says she won’t comment further.

Authorities say Stack was angry with the government and crashed his plane into the building. He killed himself and one person in the building.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A 28-year-old Iraq war veteran says he helped five people escape from the burning Austin office building that was struck by a small airplane.

Robin De Haven works for a glass company and says he was driving his truck to a job when he saw the low-flying plane early Thursday. He figured something was wrong and then when he saw the smoke he drove to the building. At that point, he says somebody asked him to use his ladder.

De Haven said Friday that he extended his ladder to 17 feet, then went into the building and helped people onto the ledge and down the ladder.

Authorities say a software engineer angry with the government crashed his plane into the building. He killed himself and one person in the building.