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Press Releases
Press Release | June 19, 2014

NORAD helicopter intercepts general aviation aircraft over Washington, D.C.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – One U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command intercepted a general aviation aircraft in the Special Flight Rules Area over Washington D.C. today at approximately 1:30 p.m. EDT.

Initially, the aircraft was not talking to air traffic control but re-established communications when it was intercepted and visually identified. The aircraft was then escorted out of the area.

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.

As one of NORAD's critical airspace security partners, the Federal Aviation Administration provides air traffic services for NORAD to safely and effectively perform its mission and to minimize the impacts on normal air traffic operations.

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.