Pilot who crashed small plane left note supporting bin Laden

TAMPA, Fla. -- The 15-year-old who crashed a small plane into a skyscraper wrote a note expressing sympathy for Osama bin Laden and support for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, police said Sunday.

The short, handwritten suicide note found in Charles Bishop's pocket said he acted alone, Tampa Police Chief Bennie Holder said, adding that the high school freshman had few friends and no apparent terrorist ties.

Holder said, "From his actions we can assume he was a very troubled young man."

Bishop crashed the Cessna 172R into the 42-story Bank of America building after taking off without authorization and ignoring signals to land from a Coast Guard helicopter. Bishop was the only fatality.

Holder said there is no indication Bishop specifically targeted the building or "had any intention of harming anyone else."

Investigators have interviewed the boy's family and said family members would search the boy's computer for evidence.

Bishop, of Palm Harbor, took off without waiting for an instructor who was supposed to accompany him.