Mourners honored the firefighters killed by the California arson fire as the first of five funerals began Friday, and praised authorities for charging the man accused of starting that fire with murder.

A light wind was cited by federal investigators Friday for blowing a small airplane carrying Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle off course and into a New York City high-rise on October 11.

Authorities were trying to determine whether Oyler has any links to at least 40 fires in the area since May, according to an official involved in the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is continuing.

Lidle and Stanger were making an aerial tour of Manhattan before flying back to California.