Plane scare as Reagan's coffin reaches Capitol

Mourners turned out in thousands as the flag-draped coffin of former US President Ronald Reagan arrived at the US Capitol today even as the building was briefly evacuated following reports of a plane entering the restricted airspace before the ceremony.

Reagan's casket, brought from California, rolled on a century-old horse-drawn caisson to the Capitol, the seat of Congress, to enable people to pay their respects before it is taken to the National Cathedral for services, to be later returned to California for the funeral tomorrow.  

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All eyes were on former President's 82-year-old

widow Nancy Reagan who managed to smile through her sorrow.

She waved and thanked the crowds who cheered and applauded when she emerged from her limousine to watch honour guards lift Reagan's coffin from a hearse onto the carriage.

President George W Bush, who is arriving here tomorrow from the G-8 meeting in Georgia, will deliver the eulogy.

As Reagan's body arrived at the dome-shaped building, 21 fighter jets screamed by in four formations, with one plane breaking away and rocketing upward in a befitting aerial tribute to the late Commander-in-Chief.

The sombre ceremony was earlier marred by a scare created when a small aircraft carrying Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher to the Capitol building mistakenly entered the restricted airspace over the capital.

Two F-15 fighter jets were sent to intercept the plane and lawmakers and other dignitaries, including House speaker Dennis Hastert, were whisked away in secured motorcades.