[JYO] LOCAL NEWS - Military Jets Escort Student Plane

FYI -

Ed

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Military Jets Escort Student Plane

.c The Associated Press 

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (AP) - A student pilot who skirted the edge of restricted 
air space around Washington was intercepted by military jets and escorted to 
a landing Thursday, officials said.

The pilot's identity, the type of plane and other details were not 
immediately available. The Secret Service asked police to detain anyone 
aboard, Montgomery County police spokeswoman Lucille Bauer said.

The plane took off from Tipton Airport near Fort Meade and was forced to land 
at Montgomery County Air Park in Gaithersburg about 10:15 a.m., said Donna 
Bigler, a county spokeswoman.

According to Air Park manager Wendy Carter, the unidentified pilot was flying 
alone.

``It was obvious as soon as he got out of the airplane that he wasn't a 
terrorist,'' Carter said. ``He's a student pilot. He's a nice guy. He's 
shaken up. Unfortunately, this is infrequent, but it does happen.''

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