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US Capitol evacuated due to possible aircraft threat

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Re: US Capitol evacuated due to possible aircraft threat

#11

Post by not2b »

incomingpain wrote: post #4

>UPDATE Police say ‘no threat’ at US Capitol after evacuation. Evacuation at the U.S. Capitol caused by U.S. Army team skydiving into stadium for the Washington Nationals. Major evacuation because of adsb emitting plane? No I doubt this.

The 9/11 hijacked planes were also emitting tracking signals. A military plane entering the Capitol exclusion zone unexpectedly might trigger an alert if they can't immediately figure out why it is there, in case it's being piloted by someone who has gone rogue.

Re: US Capitol evacuated due to possible aircraft threat

#12

Post by golergka »

pdimitar wrote: post #6

This is some Hollywood movie plot. :D

>UPDATE Police say ‘no threat’ at US Capitol after evacuation. Evacuation at the U.S. Capitol caused by U.S. Army team skydiving into stadium for the Washington Nationals.

You mean like a comedy?

Re: US Capitol evacuated due to possible aircraft threat

#13

Post by Alupis »

not2b wrote: post #11
incomingpain wrote: post #4

>UPDATE Police say ‘no threat’ at US Capitol after evacuation. Evacuation at the U.S. Capitol caused by U.S. Army team skydiving into stadium for the Washington Nationals. Major evacuation because of adsb emitting plane? No I doubt this.

The 9/11 hijacked planes were also emitting tracking signals. A military plane entering the Capitol exclusion zone unexpectedly might trigger an alert if they can't immediately figure out why it is there, in case it's being piloted by someone who has gone rogue.

According to the AP, at no time did this aircraft enter prohibited airspace[1].

    Radar tracking data shows the plane, a De Havilland Twin
    Otter, remained clear of the prohibited airspace over the
    Capitol Building and other government complexes at all
    times.
[1] https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-baseball-washington-na...

Re: US Capitol evacuated due to possible aircraft threat

#14

Post by pdimitar »

golergka wrote: post #12
pdimitar wrote: post #6

This is some Hollywood movie plot. :D

>UPDATE Police say ‘no threat’ at US Capitol after evacuation. Evacuation at the U.S. Capitol caused by U.S. Army team skydiving into stadium for the Washington Nationals. You mean like a comedy?

Tragi-comedy even!

Re: US Capitol evacuated due to possible aircraft threat

#15

Post by nomel »

notreallyserio wrote: post #8
krallja wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Army didn’t think to inform ATC of what they were up to?

According to the article they did.

So, the US Capitol didn't think to ask the ATC why there was a plane there, considering that's the purpose of the ATC? That seems even less likely.

My naive assumption is that one of the main purposes of these organizations, that we spend an incredible amount of money on, is to create, ready, and follow clear processes. What the heck are they doing with all that money/time? Does all this get reset with every election, or something?

Re: US Capitol evacuated due to possible aircraft threat

#17

Post by nomel »

United857 wrote: post #10

TLDR: one part of the US government didn't bother to inform another part of the US government what was going on.

They informed the ATC. One would assume that's the ideal mediary for this sort of thing.

Jumpers to ATC: "Hey, we're going here to jump here."

Capitol to ATC: "Hey, who's that and where are they going?"

Re: US Capitol evacuated due to possible aircraft threat

#18

Post by CaliforniaKarl »

not2b wrote: post #11
incomingpain wrote: post #4

>UPDATE Police say ‘no threat’ at US Capitol after evacuation. Evacuation at the U.S. Capitol caused by U.S. Army team skydiving into stadium for the Washington Nationals. Major evacuation because of adsb emitting plane? No I doubt this.

The 9/11 hijacked planes were also emitting tracking signals. A military plane entering the Capitol exclusion zone unexpectedly might trigger an alert if they can't immediately figure out why it is there, in case it's being piloted by someone who has gone rogue.

There is no "US capitol exclusion zone" as such. Instead, there are two things:

• A number of Prohibited Areas, of which P-56 is the one covering the capitol. That is the "prohibited airspace" that the plane avoided.

• The Flight-Restricted Zone that extends 15 miles around Washington National Airport (DCA).

If you go to http://vfrmap.com, search for "KDCA", and switch the drop-down menu to "Sectionals", you'll see where the stadium is relative to P-56. See also https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/restricted-airspace-0

Though in this case, I believe both DCA Tower and Approach were aware of this operation, and so the pilots are OK, just the Capitol Police didn't get the word. I'm certain they have radar (or at least a radar feed), and so would have been justifiably concerned.

Re: US Capitol evacuated due to possible aircraft threat

#19

Post by atkailash »

nomel wrote: post #15
notreallyserio wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to the article they did.

So, the US Capitol didn't think to ask the ATC why there was a plane there, considering that's the purpose of the ATC? That seems even less likely. My naive assumption is that one of the main purposes of these organizations, that we spend an incredible amount of money on, is to create, ready, and follow clear processes. What the heck are they doing with all that money/time? Does all this get reset with every election…

No post body was provided.
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