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NORAD responds to airspace violation April 24, 2009 PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Two U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopters and two F-16 fighters under the direction of North American Aerospace Defense Command were scrambled today to intercept a Cessna 180 aircraft (initally reported as a Piper Cub) penetrating the Air Defense Identification Zone over the National Capitol Region (Washington D.C.). The HH-65 Dolphin intercepted the small, general aviation aircraft at approximately 12:30 p.m. EDT. Following the intercept, the HH-65s were able to establish radio communications with the pilot, who then became compliant with escort directions. The U.S. Coast Guard helicopters then escorted the Piper Cub to the Maryland Airport, approximately 4 miles east of Indian Head, Md. and 15 miles from the National Capitol Region. The Piper Cub landed at Maryland Airport at approximately 1 p.m. EDT, where local law enforcement was on the scene to meet the pilot for questioning. For more information on after-flight law enforcement activity, please contact the FAA at 1-202-267-3463. NORAD's mission – in close collaboration with homeland defense, security, and law enforcement partners – is to prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America. NORAD may be required to monitor, shadow, divert from flight path, direct to land and/or destroy platforms deemed a potential threat to North America. NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that is responsible for the air defense of North America and maritime warning. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The command is poised both tactically and strategically in our nation’s capital to provide a multilayered defense to detect, deter and prevent potential threats flying over the airspace of the United States and Canada. -30- Back
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April 24, 2009

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Two U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopters and two F-16 fighters under the direction of North American Aerospace Defense Command were scrambled today to intercept a Cessna 180 aircraft (initally reported as a Piper Cub) penetrating the Air Defense Identification Zone over the National Capitol Region (Washington D.C.).

The HH-65 Dolphin intercepted the small, general aviation aircraft at approximately 12:30 p.m. EDT. Following the intercept, the HH-65s were able to establish radio communications with the pilot, who then became compliant with escort directions. The U.S. Coast Guard helicopters then escorted the Piper Cub to the Maryland Airport, approximately 4 miles east of Indian Head, Md. and 15 miles from the National Capitol Region. The Piper Cub landed at Maryland Airport at approximately 1 p.m. EDT, where local law enforcement was on the scene to meet the pilot for questioning. For more information on after-flight law enforcement activity, please contact the FAA at 1-202-267-3463.

NORAD's mission – in close collaboration with homeland defense, security, and law enforcement partners – is to prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America. NORAD may be required to monitor, shadow, divert from flight path, direct to land and/or destroy platforms deemed a potential threat to North America.

NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that is responsible for the air defense of North America and maritime warning. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The command is poised both tactically and strategically in our nation’s capital to provide a multilayered defense to detect, deter and prevent potential threats flying over the airspace of the United States and Canada.

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