Pentagon authorises F-16 fighters to fly at supersonic speed over Washington to intercept Cessna 560 Citation V - business jet failed to make contact and eventually crashed
On June 4, residents in Washington Powerful explosion frightens Washington, D.C. residents - sonic boom hits city after planes go supersonic. Almost immediately, local authorities said it caused the planes to go into supersonic speed. Now the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has revealed details of the incident.
Here's What We Know
The command said F-16 fighter jets were allowed to go to supersonic speed to intercept a Cessna 560 Citation V business jet. The aircraft flew over Long Island before turning back towards Washington DC.
NORAD Responds to an Unresponsive Aircraft over the National Capital Region pic.twitter.com/EX7r1B1Uum
- 1st AF/America's AOC (@1stAF) June 4, 2023
The military tried to make contact with the business jet, but the pilot did not respond. As a result, a Cessna 560 Citation V civilian aircraft crashed near George Washington National Forest, Virginia.
According to Flight Aware, the Cessna 560 Citation V was registered to Encore Motors. Owner John Rumpel said a daughter and child and a babysitter were on board the plane.
Source: The Washington Post, NORAD
