Pilot seen slumped over in plane that triggered fighter jet chase over Washington DC
A pilot was seen slumped over in the cockpit of a wayward plane that crashed after flying over Washington DC – as fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the aircraft.
There were no survivors found at the wreckage of the aircraft, which is said to have been carrying four people.
The plane had set off from Elizabethton in Tennessee on Sunday, before inexplicably turning around while making its way over New York’s Long Island.
It had been heading for the island’s MacArthur Airport, but instead found itself over DC – including some of the most heavily restricted airspace in the country – before crashing into mountainous terrain near Montebello, Virginia.
Fighter jets from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland were deployed to investigate when the pilot was seen slumped over, an official said.
Air traffic controllers radioed the plane, named Cessna Citation, 15 minutes after it took off at 1.13pm local time, asking it to stop its climb at 33,000ft, a senior government official said.
It turned around near New York City and is believed to have run out of fuel when it crashed just after 3.30pm local time.
It is currently unknown why the pilot was silent and did not respond to air controllers – or what might have caused them to be incapacitated.
Fighter jets not responsible for the crash
Fighter jets deployed to intercept the plane as it travelled across DC were not the cause of the crash.
They were, however, responsible for a loud, house-shaking boom over the US capital after being cleared to travel at supersonic speeds.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation on Monday to “begin the process of documenting the scene and examining the aircraft”, it said in a statement.
However, it could be days before officials can gather evidence from the “highly fragmented debris field”.
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Sonic boom interrupts music video
NTSB investigator Adam Gerhardt said: “Everything is on the table until we slowly and methodically remove different components and elements that will be relevant for this safety investigation.”
A statement from North American Aerospace Defense Command said the F-16s used flares to try to get the wayward plane’s attention, but failed to do so.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the Cessna was believed to be on autopilot.
Flight tracking websites showed it suffered a spiralling descent at more than 30,000ft per minute, before crashing down into the St Mary’s Wilderness at around 3.30pm local time on Sunday.
The New York Times reports that it was registered to Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc, which is based in Florida.
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In the aftermath of the sonic boom, locals headed to social media to find out what had happened.
Cole Rojewski, a Washington DC lobbyist, tweeted: “Huge boom or explosion in Washington DC a couple of minutes ago. Seems people from Northern Virginia to Maryland heard it. Shook homes here on Capitol Hill. Does anyone know what it was?”
Others suggested that the city might have been struck by an earthquake, while some reportedly called 911.
The Department of Homeland Security tweeted soon after the sound: “We are aware of reports from communities throughout the National Capital Region of a loud ‘boom’ this afternoon. There is no threat at this time.”
Eventually, the Office of Emergency Management of the city of Annapolis, 30 miles to the east of the capital, said the sound was the result of a military exercise.
The White House said President Biden had been briefed on the incident.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
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O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
Donald Trump says he has ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the “appropriate regions” in a row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.
It comes after Mr Medvedev, who is now deputy chair of Russia‘s Security Council, told the US president on Thursday to remember Moscow had Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort.
On Friday, Mr Trump wrote on social media: “Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.
“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
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Trump: ‘We’re going to protect our people’
Speaking outside the White House later in the day, Mr Trump was asked about why he had moved the submarines and replied: “We had to do that. We just have to be careful.
“A threat was made and we didn’t think it was appropriate, so I have to be very careful. So I do that on the basis of safety for our people. A threat was made by a former president of Russia and we’re going to protect our people.”
The spat between Mr Trump and Mr Medvedev came after the US president warned Russia on Tuesday it had “10 days from today” to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face tariffs, along with its oil buyers.
Moscow has shown no sign that it will agree to Mr Trump’s demands.
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On Thursday, Mr Medvedev reminded Mr Trump that Russia possessed a Soviet-era automated nuclear retaliatory system – or “dead hand”.
Mr Medvedev, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was referring to a secretive semi-automated Soviet command system designed to launch Russia’s missiles if its leadership was taken out in a decapitating strike.
He made the remarks after Mr Trump told him to “watch his words” after Mr Medvedev said the US president’s threat of hitting Russia and its oil buyers with punitive tariffs was “a game of ultimatums” and added that “each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war” between Russia and the US.
Dmitry Medvedev. Pic: Reuters
Mr Medvedev served as Russia’s president from 2008 and 2012, when Mr Putin was barred from seeking a third consecutive term, but then stepped aside to let him run again.
As deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, he has become known for his provocative and inflammatory statements since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.
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