An unidentified aircraft entered the highly restricted airspace over the White House on Tuesday, prompting a lockdown of the White House and Capitol, which was later lifted.
The aircraft was reportedly moving east when it violated the airspace, Fox News reported.
Fighter jets from Joint Base Andrews were immediately mobilized, along with a U.S. Capitol Police helicopter.
U.S. Northern Command tweeted, “Senior officials across the interagency are monitoring the situation on a national event conference call. @NORADCommand aircraft are on site and responding. Plane is not considered hostile at this time.”
Senior officials across the interagency are monitoring the situation on a national event conference call. @NORADCommand aircraft are on site and responding. Plane is not considered hostile at this time.
— U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) November 26, 2019
Media personnel were ordered to remain in the briefing room and shelter in place.
White House totally on lockdown. All press being sheltered in place inside briefing room. Similar reported response at the a U.S. Capitol + congressional office buildings pic.twitter.com/9GlXpH1qLq
— j.d. durkin (@jiveDurkey) November 26, 2019
Officials later said an “anomaly” or “geese” could’ve sparked mixed signals on the radar, and they planned to look closely at what prompted the warnings.
