A pilot of a private plane set his house on fire, stole a small aircraft and deliberately crashed into a seven-story building that houses offices of the Internal Revenue Service in Austin, Texas, a federal official says.

CNN reports the official has confirmed the attack at 9:40 a.m. today was intentional. Two F-16 fighter jets were launched after the crash.

Pilot set fire to his home, stole plane and deliberately crashed into this Austin building this morning. (photo: KEYE-TV)

Authorities say the plane is registered to Austin resident Joseph Andrew Stack, 53. Authorities have confirmed that Stack actually piloted the plane as it flew into the building this morning. A teenage girl who lives in his home reportedly said her father had set his Austin house on fire.

An engineer who worked in aviation by the name of Joe Stack with addresses in Austin and San Marcos, Texas, reportedly posted a long rant about taxation dated today. The original note was posted on embeddedart.com, a website registered to Stack. A note on the website now states, "This website has been taken offline due to the sensitive nature of the events that transpired in Texas this morning."

According to Business Insider, Stack began writing the note on Feb. 16 at 7:24 p.m. and revised his note 27 times before saving his final draft at 6:42 this morning.

"If you're reading this, you're no doubt asking yourself, 'Why did this have to happen?'" Stack wrote. "The simple truth is that it's complicated and has been coming for a long time. ... [D]esperate times call for desperate measures."

He continued, "We are all taught as children that without laws there would be no society, only anarchy. Sadly, starting at early ages we in this country have been brainwashed to believe that, in return for our dedication and service, our government stands for justice for all. We are further brainwashed to believe that there is freedom in this place, and that we should be ready to lay our lives down for the noble principles represented by founding fathers. Remember? One of those was 'no taxation without representation.'"

Stack blasted politicians for casting votes without constituents in mind, criticized the "joke we call the American medical system" and condemned the American legal and tax systems. He also ranted against bankers, accountants, "monsters of organized religion" and "the recent presidential puppet G.W. Bush and his cronies."

"I live in a country with an ideology that is based on a total and complete lie," Stack wrote. "It also made me realize, not only how naive I've been, but also the incredible stupidity of the American public; that they buy, hook, line, and sinker, the c--p about their 'freedom.'"

The man indicated that he was subject to an IRS audit.

"I know I'm hardly the first one to decide I have had all I can stand," he wrote."It has always been a myth that people have stopped dying for their freedom in this country, and it isn't limited to the blacks, and poor immigrants. I know there have been countless before me and there are sure to be as many after. But I also know that by not adding my body to the count, I insure [sic] nothing will change. ... Sadly, though I spent my entire life trying to believe it wasn't so, but violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer."

He continued: "I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different. I am finally ready to stop this insanity. Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let's try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well."

Stack concluded, "The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need. The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed."

He signed the entry "Joe Stack (1956-2010)."

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According to eyewitnesses, the Piper Cherokee PA-28 plane did not slow down and was in "full-dive mode" before it flew into the building at the 9400 block of Research Boulevard in Northwest Austin. The plane's fuel tank was nearly full.

Two people have been transported from the scene to University Medical Center Brackenridge. Paramedics set up a triage center, and it is uncertain how many people have been injured.

The building houses civil enforcement and criminal investigations divisions of the IRS. Federal Aviation Administration officials told CNN the plane departed Georgetown Municipal Airport, north of Austin.

Eyewitness Sunny Zunker said she saw "a big ball of fire" as the plane slammed into the building.

"It was awful to watch," Zunker said. "I was shaking, just shaking. I just remember the shock on peoples’ faces. People pulled over with their mouths open."

Zunker said the plane didn't appear to be looking for a place to land and was traveling quickly. Another eyewitness said the plane seemed "very controlled."

One IRS employee said the impact "felt like a bomb blew off," according to the Associated Press.

"The ceiling caved in and windows blew in," said Peggy Walker. "We got up and ran."

The IRS has 199 employees in the building, and all except one are reportedly accounted for. A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman has called the attack "a criminal act."

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a release stating, "We do not yet know the cause of the plane crash. At this time, we have no reason to believe there is a nexus to terrorist activity. We continue to gather more information, and are aware there is additional information about the pilot's history."