Authorities evacuated the Capitol, Library of Congress and Supreme Court buildings in Washington, D.C., for a short time Saturday after a light plane violated restricted airspace around the city and its pilot couldn’t be raised on the radio. Some reports said the aircraft came within four minutes of flying time to downtown Washington, which would put it in the Flight Restricted Zone. NORAD went to AIRCON Red at 1:36 p.m. local time, in response to the incursion. It scrambled a pair of F-15s from nearby Andrews Air Force Base while police evacuated the buildings. The flight reportedly originated in Massachusetts but its destination wasn’t immediately known.
It’s also not clear whether the communications with the pilot were established before or after the F-15s showed up but they escorted the aircraft to Mount Airy, NC, where the pilot was interviewed by government employees, many of them wearing earpieces. There was no word on criminal charges but busting the FRZ normally results in sanctions and some re-education courtesy of the FAA.
Correction: Earlier reports gave the wrong airport at which the aircraft was ordered to land.
