FAA: Plane Was On Course

Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher's staff says his aircraft was on course and in touch with controllers when it apparently prompted the evacuation of the US Capitol and Supreme Court Wednesday. It looks for all the world like someone at the FAA didn't communicate the governor's clearance to security officials.

"You have one minute to impact."

That was the warning blared on loudspeakers at the heart of US government Wednesday as officials quickly evacuated both lawmakers and those who'd gathered to pay their respects to former President Ronald Reagan.

The momentarily unidentified aircraft turned out to be a 32-year old King Air 200 (file photo of type, below) carrying Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher and his party to the Reagan National Airport so they could attend Wednesday's services for President Reagan, who died Saturday at the age of 93.

Daniel Groves, Fletcher's chief of staff, told reporters after the incident that the Kentucky State Police aircraft's transponder stopped working shortly after take-off from Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. Groves and Fletcher's communications director, Doug Hogan, said even though the flight crew stayed in touch with controllers -- even though it had permission to penetrate the Washington (DC) ADIZ -- they didn't pass the word along.

"It would appear the air traffic controllers did not notify any of the other agencies about the situation," Hogan said.

Two F-15 fighters scrambled to meet the governor's airplane. Fletcher said he didn't know anything about the situation until well after he landed.

"He did not sense any danger or any concern because they were in full control of the airplane," Groves said.

The Capitol reopened about 90-minutes before the motorcade carrying President Reagan's body arrived for the beginning of his state funeral.

FMI: www.faa.gov