Capitol cleared in plane alert

Thursday May 12, 2005

Jamie Wilson in Washington

Fighter jets yesterday fired warning flares at a small plane that entered restricted airspace over Washington causing the White House and Capitol building to be evacuated.

The two-seater plane was forced to land at a small airport in Maryland and two men were taken into custody. Officials said later that the intrusion appeared to have been accidental and that no charges would be filed.

The White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, said the Cessna-150 had passed within three miles - about 90 seconds flying time - of the White House.

President George Bush was biking at a wildlife centre in Maryland at the time, but the vice-president, Dick Cheney, was evacuated from the White House to a "secure location", along with the first lady, Laura Bush, the Associated Press reported.

People in several other government buildings, including the supreme court, were also ordered to seek safety.

Reports said the plane had ignored warnings from a fighter aircraft and only changed course when four flares were fired.

It was the second time in recent weeks that key government buildings in Washington were evacuated.