Brian Cowen ‘safe’ in New York

Foreign Minister Brian Cowen is safe in New York following today’s crash of an American Airlines Airbus, the Foreign Ministry said.

Mr Cowen was due to deliver a speech to the United Nations General Assembly later today when the aircraft crashed near to JFK Airport.

The minister travelled to the UN headquarters in New York on Friday and planned to return home tomorrow.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said: ‘‘He and the other ministers at the United Nations building are safe and well.

‘‘The minister was due to make a speech to the General Assembly later today - that is still going ahead as things stand.’’

He added: ‘‘He was scheduled to return to Ireland tomorrow but those plans may now obviously be affected by the incident.’’