F-16 Squadron Tracks Down Violating Plane in Washington D.C. Airspace, Later Crashes in Virginia Mountains

The US military sent a squadron of F-16s to track down a small plane violating Washington, D.C. airspace without pilot feedback. Later, the plane crashed into a mountainous area in Virginia.

Cessna Citation small aircraft pursuit operations of the United States Fighter Squadron. created a loud sonic boom Shocked the public in Washington, D.C.

North American Air and Space Defense Command (NORAD) said the US military was trying to contact the pilot-operator. but did not get a response Later, this Cessna plane crashed into a mountain range within the George Washington National Forest. at the state of Virginia

The news source said that The plane appeared to be in autopilot mode, while US officials It insisted that F-16 operations did not cause the plane to crash.

According to flight tracking website Flight Aware, the Cessna is registered by Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc. in Florida, and sources say it has four passengers on board. Capacity between 7-12 passengers

Encore owner John Rumpel told the Washington Post that his daughter, nephew and niece were on the plane.

“We still don’t know about the plane crash. We are contacting the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration),” Rumpel told the Washington Post by phone. before cutting the call

The FAA said the Cessna jet departed from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee. It was headed for MacArthur Airport in Long Island, New York, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Manhattan. According to Flight Aware, it arrived in the New York area. before turning his head almost 180 degrees and crashing into the state of Virginia

Virginia State Police have sent agents to search for the wreckage. And recently there are reports confirming that no survivors found

Several Washington, D.C. residents took to Twitter on Thursday (June 4) saying they heard a sonic boom from fighter jets. which erupted until “The floors and walls of the house shook,” as many said the sound reached as far north as Virginia and Maryland.

Source: Reuters