I. M. Esperto
19th Jan 2003, 12:04
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=79&art_id=qw1042965901869B231&set_id=1
Lost pilot lands copter at Air Force One base
January 19 2003 at 11:43AM
Washington - An unidentified Swiss national on Saturday landed his helicopter at Andrews Air Force Base, the home of the presidential Air Force One jet outside Washington, after becoming lost, the Air Force said.
The pilot, who had a Swiss passport and identification with him, apparently became lost while trying to land at Indian Head airport, which is several kilometres from Andrews, according to the 89th Airlift Wing of the Air Force.
It said the FBI and Air Force Office of Special Investigations were called in to assist with an investigation of the incident, which occurred around 5pm EST (22h00 GMT) on a day of clear blue skies in the Washington area.
The pilot and his aircraft remained at Andrews, pending the investigation, the Air Force said.
President George W Bush was not expected to use Air Force One
President George W Bush was not expected to use Air Force One on Saturday as he was spending the weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, a destination he typically reaches from the White House by helicopter.
Aviation authorities and the US military set up restricted flight zones over parts of Washington, New York and other areas after the September 11 attacks in which hijackers crashed airliners into buildings.
The Swiss pilot is not the first to stray into restricted airspace around Washington and Camp David since September 11.
In July, US military jets were twice scrambled after three small planes intruded into restricted airspace around Camp David, although none of those planes landed there.
The White House was briefly evacuated in June after a private Cessna came within 6km of the White House and air traffic controllers were unable to contact its pilot.
In most cases, such pilots are released after questioning, and they are referred to aviation authorities for possible administrative action for not following flight procedures.
An Andrews spokesperson could not say if military jets were scrambled in response to Saturday's incident.
Lost pilot lands copter at Air Force One base
January 19 2003 at 11:43AM
Washington - An unidentified Swiss national on Saturday landed his helicopter at Andrews Air Force Base, the home of the presidential Air Force One jet outside Washington, after becoming lost, the Air Force said.
The pilot, who had a Swiss passport and identification with him, apparently became lost while trying to land at Indian Head airport, which is several kilometres from Andrews, according to the 89th Airlift Wing of the Air Force.
It said the FBI and Air Force Office of Special Investigations were called in to assist with an investigation of the incident, which occurred around 5pm EST (22h00 GMT) on a day of clear blue skies in the Washington area.
The pilot and his aircraft remained at Andrews, pending the investigation, the Air Force said.
President George W Bush was not expected to use Air Force One
President George W Bush was not expected to use Air Force One on Saturday as he was spending the weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, a destination he typically reaches from the White House by helicopter.
Aviation authorities and the US military set up restricted flight zones over parts of Washington, New York and other areas after the September 11 attacks in which hijackers crashed airliners into buildings.
The Swiss pilot is not the first to stray into restricted airspace around Washington and Camp David since September 11.
In July, US military jets were twice scrambled after three small planes intruded into restricted airspace around Camp David, although none of those planes landed there.
The White House was briefly evacuated in June after a private Cessna came within 6km of the White House and air traffic controllers were unable to contact its pilot.
In most cases, such pilots are released after questioning, and they are referred to aviation authorities for possible administrative action for not following flight procedures.
An Andrews spokesperson could not say if military jets were scrambled in response to Saturday's incident.