Giuliani: 161 bodies recovered from crash

New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani has said 161 bodies have been recovered so far after an American Airlines airbus crashed into a residential area in the borough of Queens in New York.

He again praised the rapid response of firefighters and police which helped bring the fires under control.

"We are again in debt to the fire and the police departments and the New York Port Authority", the outgoing mayor said.

About 30 people who were hurt on the ground were treated at a hospital for minor injuries, mostly smoke inhalation.

Mr Giuliani confirmed that there were six people reported missing from the Queens borough in the wake of the crash.