Fighter jets intercept small plane near Washington, D.C. < br />

2012-08-06 05:02:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- Two F-16 fighter jets intercepted a small airplane near Washington, D.C. Saturday after the pilot failed to respond to radio communications, military officials said on Sunday. The aircraft was later allowed to proceed when contact was established.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said the incident happened at around 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) when a Beechcraft King Air airplane approached the Washington Metropolitan Area and failed to respond to repeated radio communications.

Two F-16 fighter jets, under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, immediately responded and intercepted the small plane. "Following the intercept the aircraft re-established radio communications with air traffic control and was allowed to proceed to its destination," NORAD said in a brief statement, giving no other details.

NORAD is tasked to prevent air attacks against North America and safeguard the sovereign airspaces of both the United States and Canada by responding to unauthorized air activity in or near these airspace. The organization is allowed to monitor, shadow, divert from flight path, direct to land and even destroy targets which are deemed to be a security threat to North America.

Last month, two Canadian CF-18 fighter jets intercepted a Sunwing Airlines Boeing 767-300 near Quebec City after the plane failed to respond to radio communications. The fighter jets were able to assist the aircraft in re-establishing radio communications with air traffic control, and the airliner proceeded without incident to its destination. It was on a flight from Paris to Toronto.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-08-06

Haha, those 767 dudes were probably crashed. Almost shot down due to a short cat nap.

I wonder what they would do if it was the real thing.

Shoot down the plane right there over a heavily-populated urban area, stray shots and debris falling on the city?

I wonder what they would do if it was the real thing.

Shoot down the plane right there over a heavily-populated urban area, stray shots and debris falling on the city?

,,,vs, the offending aircraft dropping a dirty-bomb on the capitol building or Canadian Parliament? Or plowing into an office tower with thousands of workers in it?

Yup.

Once the airplane proved to be an actual threat, it would be shot down.

They have found that throwing marshmellows at them doesn't work very well.

Once the airplane proved to be an actual threat, it would be shot down.

They have found that throwing marshmellows at them doesn't work very well.

But FLAMING marshmallows are a different matter!