The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > General > Homeland Security

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-12-2008, 11:14 AM
David's Avatar
David David is offline
Administrator
 

Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 46,798
Distinctions
Special Projects VOM Staff Contributor 
Default Plane flies too close to Capitol in D.C.

AP


WASHINGTON - An aircraft violated the restricted airspace around federal Washington Wednesday, prompting security officials to raise the threat level from yellow to orange and order personnel in the U.S. Capitol to prepare to evacuate.

Capitol Police Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said the plane was diverted to a landing in nearby Leesburg, Va., where the pilot was being interviewed.

Michael Kucharek, a spokesman with North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, said two F-16s were scrambled about 10:15 a.m. EDT after a plane heading south from Maryland violated restricted air space around Washington.

A Coast Guard helicopter also was involved in the intercept and escort of the single-engine Cessna, according to Lt. Gene Maestas, spokesman for the guard's Mid-Atlantic region.

NORAD also used a laser system that visually warns pilots they are in a restricted area, Kucharek said. The pilot turned west and landed at an airport in suburban Leesburg, Va., while under escort from the fighter jets.

It wasn't immediately clear how close the plane had come to the Capitol building, where the U.S. Congress convenes.

The Capitol was not evacuated, but tourists were turned away for a time. The threat level was soon returned to yellow, or elevated and later, green — or low threat — according to police and other officials.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said the White House was notified.

"There was an aircraft that entered into the airspace that there was some concern about, but the aircraft turned around," she said. "We are at normal security levels here at the White House."
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Shots at the Capitol,... SEATJERKER General Posts 0 05-26-2006 07:48 AM
Capitol artist BLUEHAWK General Posts 0 07-26-2005 10:43 AM
The Ten Commandments & Tha Capitol Bldg. travisab1 General Posts 2 02-23-2004 02:19 PM
Marine team designs and flies homemade, muscle-powered plane thedrifter Marines 0 10-26-2003 07:54 AM

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:54 PM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.