LOC09:13
06:13 GMT
WASHINGTON, June 5 (KUNA) -- North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said late Sunday that in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NORAD F-16 fighter aircraft "responded to an unresponsive" Cessna aircraft over the nationآ’s capital and northern Virginia.
NORAD affirmed in a statement that the NORAD aircraft were "authorized to travel at supersonic speeds and a sonic boom may have been heard."
It added that the civilian aircraft was "intercepted" and the pilot was "unresponsive and the Cessna subsequently crashed" in Virginia.
"NORAD attempted to establish contact with the pilot until the aircraft crashed," the statement added.
Meanwhile, the FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the crash.
The US Capitol Police also tweeted that "the Capitol Complex was briefly placed on an elevated alert until the airplane left the area."
Furthermore, a White House official said that President Joe Biden was "briefed on the incident."
The official added that "the sound resulting from the authorized DOD aircraft was faint at JBA (Joint Base Andrews)" where Biden was golfing at the course. (end)
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