The White House was briefly evacuated late Wednesday after a small private plane flew into restricted air space around the executive mansion. The Secret Service ordered staff and reporters to leave the building. Officials said the president remained inside the White House and was protected by security procedures, but they did not elaborate. The evacuation lasted only about 15 minutes. Two F-16 military jets were scrambled from nearby Andrews Air Force Base, when air traffic controllers were unable to immediately contact the pilot of the single-engine aircraft. After the plane was contacted and identified, the military jets followed it to Richmond, Virginia, about 160 kilometers south of Washington. Officials say the pilot may not have realized he had violated restricted air space and that the incident is being treated as an accident.
They seem to have that part of home defense under control. I heard the F-16s were on him before he was close to the White House. |