F-16 fighters buzzed above D.C. on Saturday, in response to an unknown aircraft defense officials say flew into the capital region’s airspace without proper clearance.
A single-engine, civilian aircraft that was not communicating with air traffic controllers entered into the Special Rules Flight Area that surrounds D.C. around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, a joint American and Canadian operation protecting the skies in both countries from its Colorado headquarters.
NORAD said it dispatched two F-16 fighter jets to intercept the aircraft. Moments later, several WTOP listeners reported jets flying low over Gaithersburg and Rockville in Maryland.
You don’t get to hear fighter jets flying over your apartment when you live near philly. DC is pretty neat
— Maddie Myers (@mad_myers96) April 28, 2019
“As part of NORAD’s homeland defense efforts, NORAD aircraft responded, but prior to intercept, the civilian pilot established positive communications and immediately landed at the nearest airport,” NORAD spokesman Major Mark Lazane said in a statement, remarking the event was resolved without incident.
