Pilot intercepted over Arizona after trying to impress woman

Pilot intercepted over Arizona after trying to impress woman

2011-07-02 08:31:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- Two F-16 fighter jets on early Friday afternoon intercepted a small plane in Arizona after it had accidentally flown into Mexico during an attempt to impress a woman, officials said.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said two F-16 fighter jets intercepted the small aircraft at approximately 12.50 p.m. Central Time when it was near the border near Tucson, a city about 60 miles (98 kilometers) north of the U.S.-Mexico border. It had just re-entered U.S. airspace.

The civilian aircraft, which was flying without a flight plan, was forced to land at Tucson International Airport where the pilot was met by local law enforcement. He reportedly explained that he accidentally flew into Mexico while attempting to impress a woman.

Several small planes have been intercepted by NORAD aircraft in various parts of the United States in recent weeks. Most recently, on June 13 and June 18, U.S. Coast Guard helicopters were ordered to intercept two small planes after they entered restricted airspace near Washington, D.C.

And earlier in June, two F-15 fighter jets out of Jacksonville International Airport in Florida were alerted when a small Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft remained out of radio contact while near restricted airspace over Camp David, the country retreat of the president. It landed without incident after being escorted out of the area.

NORAD is tasked to prevent air attacks against North America and safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America. It is allowed to monitor, shadow, divert from flight path, direct to land and destroy targets which are deemed to be a security threat to North America.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-02