White House briefly on lockdown, fighter jets scrambled

UPDATE: The lockdown has been lifted at both the White House and the Capitol.

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The White House was briefly placed on lockdown after an airspace violation.

The incursion was initially thought to have been an aircraft, but is now thought to have been caused by a flock of birds that were picked up by radar.


White House staff and the press were ordered to shelter in place during the lockdown.

The temporary lockdown began just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday and was lifted about 20 minutes later. A lockdown at the Capitol was also lifted after the incident.

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