White House evacuated after plane scare

An emergency evacuation of the White House and Capitol Hill sparked fears of a terror attack after a small Cessna 150 airplane entered restricted airspace over the nation's capital on Wednesday.

Two F-16 military jets and Black Hawk choppers took to the skies over Washington D C after the airplane entered restricted airspace over the nation's capital, at one point reaching as close as four miles to the White House.  The restricted airspace extends in a 15 ¾-mile radius around the Washington Monument.

Two men in the aircraft, which is registered to the Vintage Aero Club, a group of 10 people who fly in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, have been arrested after the plane was escorted by the military aircraft to the Frederick Municipal Airport in Frederick, Maryland, reports said.

The emergency evacuation orders came after the plane violated the secure airspace shortly before noon. First Lady Laura Bush and former First Lady Nancy Reagan were in the residence at the time and were taken to safer locations.

President Bush was away at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland, reports said. Vice President Dick Cheney was also removed to a secure location, reports said.

Congressional leaders and staffers were rushed out by security officers even as the terror alert was raised to red -- the highest -- for eight minutes.

Capitol Police chief Terrance W Gainer was quoted in reports as saying that officials were concerned because the plane appeared to be 'on a straight-on shot toward the centre of the Washington area.'

This seems to be 'errant pilots,' he said.

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