A private aircraft that strayed into the no-fly zone over President Obama’s summer house in Chilmark Sunday afternoon received a prompt military escort to Nantucket without incident, government officials have confirmed.
A spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) told the Gazette Tuesday that two F15 fighter aircraft were launched to investigate after a private aircraft was detected in the restricted airspace over the Obama home, overlooking the north shore of the Vineyard.
“Yes, there was an intercept,” NORAD spokesman Perry Nouis told the Gazette. He said in addition to the two F15s, a Coast Guard MH 65 helicopter, which was already airborne, flew to the scene to conduct the intercept.
Mr. Nouis said the pilot was escorted to the Nantucket Memorial Airport where he was met by law enforcement there.
No information was immediately available about the type of plane or the identity of the pilot, although there were unconfirmed reports later that the plane was a Cessna Skyhawk. A handful of eyewitnesses identified the plane as small, with a single engine.
Mr. Nouis said the intercept exercise was coordinated by the Federal Aviation Administration and Secret Service.
Whenever the President travels, temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) go into place in the area where is he staying, a practice that by now is well known on the Island. A TFR is normally two concentric rings of 30 miles and 10 miles in radius, extending vertically to 18,000 feet. Above that altitude, all aircraft are required to be on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. On Sunday, the pilot in question apparently violated the inner ring, which is significantly more restricted.
A detailed notice to airman (NOTAM) goes out before the President’s arrival.
NOTAMs can change at any time with little if any prior notice.
Mr. Nouis said intrusions by small planes into TFR zones are not uncommon.
“It’s kind of a routine situation — it happens frequently,” he said. “Sometimes pilots go someplace and don’t check the NOTAMs.”
The military escort on Sunday was seen by a handful of Islanders, including Tom Hodgson, a resident on Tiasquam Road in West Tisbury. Mr. Hodgson said he was outside at about 1 p.m. on Sunday, and saw a helicopter “herding” a small plane overhead. He posted his observations on Facebook.
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