🚨🇺🇸Huge boom or explosion in Washington DC a couple of minutes ago. The sound was even heard in Northern Virginia and Maryland. … Updating pic.twitter.com/1cKBKoMCPH
— Terror Alarm (@Terror_Alarm) June 4, 2023
A small plane that flew over a restricted area of Washington DC likely prompted the Pentagon to scramble an interceptor fighter jet Sunday afternoon.
The private Cessna jet from Elizabethton, Tennessee appeared unresponsive as it came close to both the US Capitol building and the White House at around 3.30pm, Federal Aviation Administration officials say.
The aircraft was on its way to Long Island, New York, but once it reached its destination, it turned around and headed back to Washington DC, flight paths show.
US military officials then scrambled fighter jets from Andrews Air Force Base, where President Joe Biden was playing golf at the time, to pursue the Cessna Citation, which can only carry about 12 passengers.
Soon, authorities confirmed that an F-16 fighter plane broke the sound barrier over Chesapeake Bay, which caused a loud ‘explosion’ sound that shook houses and created widespread panic.
The aircraft eventually crashed in the mountainous regions of Virginia, though military officials deny that the pursuit caused the crash.
The Department of Homeland Security said there is no threat at this time.
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