A dozen small planes violated temporarily restricted airspace during President Bush?s speech in Emmitsburg Sunday, prompting federal authorities to guide the planes to the ground, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
“It was a very nice day for flying, and it doesn?t seem to be intentional,” said Holly Baker, spokeswoman for the FAA.
Bush was speaking at a National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Sunday morning, leading to restrictions on flying within a 30-mile radius, Baker said. Fighter jets patrolled the skies to keep the airspace free of threatening aircraft or any planes flying off course into the area.
At least one plane was forced to land at the Carroll County Regional Airport in Westminster, about 20 miles away.
Pilots are expected to check their fly zones before they take off, but these pilots were unaware of the temporarily restricted area, Baker said. Had they been commercial plane pilots, they would have been in contact with an air-traffic controller, who would have informed them of the restricted area.
The Secret Service knew of 11 planes it guided to nearby landing areas, spokeswoman Kim Bruce said.
“They violated the space, but it was inadvertent as far as the Secret Service is concerned,” Bruce said.
The pilots were interviewed after landing and could face suspended licenses, she said. An investigation is continuing.
In Westminster, residents could hear the president?s jets circling overhead. Some worried that it foreshadowed the noise they?d hear with an airport?s runway expansion.
“It was loud,” said resident Brad Brown, who lives on the outskirts of town. “I would move out of Westminster if I could.”
The county, however, has repeatedly assured residents that noise will not increase, and their quality of life will not be affected by the expanded runway.
