05-11-2005, 01:47 PM
U.S. Capitol, White House evacuated in plane scare
52 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fighter jets scrambled over Washington and authorities hurriedly evacuated the White House and the U.S. Congress on Wednesday when an unidentified plane roamed into restricted airspace, sparking fears of a Sept. 11-style attack.
The light private Cessna ignored calls from air traffic controllers and entered the restricted zone around Washington, coming within 3 miles of the Capitol before turning away, authorities said.
The plane's approach sent at least two F-16 fighter jets into the air over the U.S. capital and hundreds of staff and tourists into the streets outside the Capitol building, White House and Supreme Court in an urgent evacuation.
President Bush was not at the White House at the time, having gone on a bicycle ride at a wildlife preserve in the suburbs. Vice President Dick Cheney was in the West Wing and was quickly moved to a secure location, an administration official said.
The Cessna, which turned away from the Capitol after it approached then turned back, was escorted to Frederick, Maryland, and the pilot was taken into police custody, a U.S. Homeland Security official said.
"Get out, get out," Capitol police shouted to lawmakers and staff as they moved through the building and offices, clearing the floors and galleries in both chambers.
U.S. senators debating highway legislation dropped their papers and ran from the Senate chamber. House of Representatives lawmakers were in the midst of a vote when the evacuation order came.
The incident prompted the U.S. government's joint operations center to send an "alert" to White House staff. "Do not leave building. Proceed to interior halls and lower levels. Avoid windows," the alert read.
Capitol police swiftly moved senators, aides, lobbyists and journalists toward Union Station, about two blocks away. Police used bullhorns to order onlookers near the Capitol to "stay away from the building."
The Secret Service later gave the "all clear" within minutes of the scare and allowed staff to return to their offices in the White House. Capitol police also issued an "all clear" bulletin for Congress.
A homeland security official said the Cessna was escorted by fighter jets and helicopters and ordered to land in Frederick, which is just outside the restricted airspace around Washington. State police took the pilot into custody.
The official was not sure if there were any other people on board the airplane or where it was traveling from.
"Standard procedures were followed," the official said.
Pilots are not allowed to fly into airspace set up by the Federal Aviation Administration after the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked airliner attacks.
If warnings are ignored and the aircraft remains in restricted airspace it could be shot down. All pilots with permission to fly into or through Washington airspace -- mainly commercial flights -- must transmit special identification codes to air traffic controllers.
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Not a town to mess around in. We saw at least 6 Hummer mounted surface to air missle launchers and tons of security when we visited D.C.
We saw two F-16's fly over at diferent times. And noticed that commercial planes had to fly a strict coridor to land at Reagan Int in the distance.
We also got to see Marine 1, 2, & 3 fly over bringing Bush back to the Whitehouse from Camp David. That was cool.
52 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fighter jets scrambled over Washington and authorities hurriedly evacuated the White House and the U.S. Congress on Wednesday when an unidentified plane roamed into restricted airspace, sparking fears of a Sept. 11-style attack.
The light private Cessna ignored calls from air traffic controllers and entered the restricted zone around Washington, coming within 3 miles of the Capitol before turning away, authorities said.
The plane's approach sent at least two F-16 fighter jets into the air over the U.S. capital and hundreds of staff and tourists into the streets outside the Capitol building, White House and Supreme Court in an urgent evacuation.
President Bush was not at the White House at the time, having gone on a bicycle ride at a wildlife preserve in the suburbs. Vice President Dick Cheney was in the West Wing and was quickly moved to a secure location, an administration official said.
The Cessna, which turned away from the Capitol after it approached then turned back, was escorted to Frederick, Maryland, and the pilot was taken into police custody, a U.S. Homeland Security official said.
"Get out, get out," Capitol police shouted to lawmakers and staff as they moved through the building and offices, clearing the floors and galleries in both chambers.
U.S. senators debating highway legislation dropped their papers and ran from the Senate chamber. House of Representatives lawmakers were in the midst of a vote when the evacuation order came.
The incident prompted the U.S. government's joint operations center to send an "alert" to White House staff. "Do not leave building. Proceed to interior halls and lower levels. Avoid windows," the alert read.
Capitol police swiftly moved senators, aides, lobbyists and journalists toward Union Station, about two blocks away. Police used bullhorns to order onlookers near the Capitol to "stay away from the building."
The Secret Service later gave the "all clear" within minutes of the scare and allowed staff to return to their offices in the White House. Capitol police also issued an "all clear" bulletin for Congress.
A homeland security official said the Cessna was escorted by fighter jets and helicopters and ordered to land in Frederick, which is just outside the restricted airspace around Washington. State police took the pilot into custody.
The official was not sure if there were any other people on board the airplane or where it was traveling from.
"Standard procedures were followed," the official said.
Pilots are not allowed to fly into airspace set up by the Federal Aviation Administration after the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked airliner attacks.
If warnings are ignored and the aircraft remains in restricted airspace it could be shot down. All pilots with permission to fly into or through Washington airspace -- mainly commercial flights -- must transmit special identification codes to air traffic controllers.
**********
Not a town to mess around in. We saw at least 6 Hummer mounted surface to air missle launchers and tons of security when we visited D.C.
We saw two F-16's fly over at diferent times. And noticed that commercial planes had to fly a strict coridor to land at Reagan Int in the distance.
We also got to see Marine 1, 2, & 3 fly over bringing Bush back to the Whitehouse from Camp David. That was cool.