Capitol evacuated, fighter jets scrambled for plane in restricted airspace
Capitol evacuated, fighter jets scrambled for plane in restricted airspace
NORAD
File photo
Posted: Saturday, June 7, 2014 2:33 pm | Updated: 9:31 pm, Sat Jun 7, 2014.
The U.S. Capitol building was evacuated Saturday and fighter jets roared through the skies over Northern Virginia after a small aircraft violated restricted airspace, authorities said.
U.S. Capitol Police say the pilot was not responding to communication, prompting the evacuation about 1:35 p.m. Within minutes, the pilot was back in contact and the Capitol went back to “normal operations.”
A spokesman for Northern Aerospace Defense Command said its agency sent aircraft up after the pilot of the small civilian plane did not respond. The plane landed in Virginia and an investigation is ongoing. Capitol police said the pilot was being interviewed.
People took to Twitter with panicked reports of loud aircraft and crowds running from buildings in downtown Washington.
“People are running, police are yelling ‘Get down, this is not a drill,’” one wrote.
NORAD expects to release more details about the incident later today.
Stay with InsideNoVa.com and our Facebook page for updates.
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