Flight From Maine Disrupts Congress

Pilot Identified As Casco Businessman

WMTW 4/24/09

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A small plane that flew out of Turner caused some anxious moments when it strayed into restricted air space near the U.S. Capitol, forcing officials to place the White House in temporary lock down.

The episode was over within minutes as F-16 fighter jets and Coast Guard helicopters were dispatched to intercept the Cessna 180 and escort it to an airport in Maryland.

The owner of Indian Head Airport cited a technology problem that led to a navigation error.

He was en route with his wife to visit their daughter in North Carolina.

The owner of Twitchell's Airport in Turner said Wales usually flies his Cessna to and from his lakeside camp in northern Maine. Dale Twitchell said Wales is a good, experienced pilot but hasn't done much of his flying in big cities.

FMI