On Wednesday, April 24, an airplane part was found in a narrow space between two buildings in New York. Since then, Boeing has confirmed it to be part of the wing that came from one of the airplanes involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

The wing, which was initially thought to be landing gear, was located in a narrow alley behind 51 Park Place and 50 Murray Street in the financial district in Manhattan.  A group of construction workers found it as they were working on repairs to the roof mosque adjacent to the alley.  The piece, approximately five feet high and three feet wide, was found between the two building wedged about one story above ground level and had visible wreckage according to the New York Police Department.  The wing should be moved to a different location for further investigation shortly and will be treated as a historical artifact.

This alley is being treated as a crime scene by police, who have blocked off the area and have started looking for any other rubble and remains from 9/11.  The area is also being tested for the possibility of toxicity.  The New York Medical Examiner’s office has also got involved at the scene because police plan to have the area sifted for traces of human remains.  This method has proved successful with other areas of debris, including the discovery of 39 human remains in debris that was searched earlier this month.

Over a decade after the nation was shocked by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, this discovery of evidence serves as a reminder of the continuing pain of those who lost family and friends as well as those who remain missing.