[JYO] Small Engine Plane Entered Restricted Air Space; All-Clear Given 15 Minutes Late

washingtonpost.com
White House, Capitol Evacuated
Small Engine Plane  Entered Restricted Air Space; All-Clear Given 15 Minutes 
Later

By William  Branigin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 11, 2005; 12:32  PM

The White House and U.S. Capitol were briefly evacuated today when  
authorities became alarmed about the approach of an unidentified aircraft, and  
U.S. 
warplanes were scrambled to meet the suspected threat.

Witnesses saw  two F-16 jets circle a small single-engine plane just north of 
Washington and  fire warning flares at it to deter the pilot from heading 
further south into  restricted air space.

About 15 minutes after the evacuation, the  all-clear was given, and people 
were allowed back into the White House and  Capitol.

Shortly after the evacuation was ordered, reporters at the White  House were 
ordered by Secret Service agents to leave the grounds  immediately.


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