May 11, 2005🇺🇸Military Encounter
Radar EvidenceMilitary Base

Washington D.C.: Cessna Triggers Air Scare

Radar detected a plane entering Washington's air defense zone, prompting threat escalation and fighter scrambles. It was a lost Cessna 150 with pilots using outdated maps, nearly shot down before diverting.

Date
May 11, 2005
Location
Washington, D.C.🇽🇽
Type
Military Encounter
Country
🇺🇸 United States
Map

Background

Incident Overview On May 11, 2005, at 11:28 a.m., radar operators identified an aircraft approaching the Air Defense Identification Zone near Washington, D.C. from the north. Unable to reach the pilot, authorities raised the White House threat level from yellow to orange, then red in minutes, triggering evacuations and fighter intercepts.

Response and Evacuations F-16 fighters were launched as people fled the Capitol, Supreme Court, and White House. About 35,000 evacuated from Capitol areas, 200 from the White House. Laura Bush, Nancy Reagan, and Dick Cheney were moved to secure bunkers. The plane passed the vice president's residence, nearing the White House.

Resolution Contact established at 12:06 p.m.; pilots initially refused diversion, claiming rights. Flares from F-16s prompted compliance. Escorted by jets and helicopters, the Cessna 150 from rural Pennsylvania veered northwest. Pilots were disoriented due to old maps. Observers in offices watched the 15-minute event. (Source: Washington Post, May 12, 2005)

Connections