The White House just experienced another facet of its modern life: lockdown. About 12:40 p.m., Secret Service officers began ordering camera people, correspondents, and anyone else on the White House driveway into the press building -- an unidentified threat had materialized.
This happens more often that you think, and usually turns out to be a knapsack accidentally left outside the gate, or a plane that wanders into restricted space too close to the White House.
About 10 minutes later, the all clear was given and people could return to the sunshine. Word is it was a wandering airplane.
Update at 1:38 P.M. ET:From AP, "The episode was over within minutes as two F-16 fighter jets and two Coast Guard helicopters were dispatched and intercepted the plane. U.S. Northern Command spokesman Michael Kucharek says two helicopters established communications with the pilot and escorted the plane. The FAA says it landed at Indian Head Airport in Charles County, Maryland."
Authorities also took steps toward evacuating the Capitol. Writes the AP: "The Senate was in session, and briefly recessed. The House was not meeting."
Update at 2:33 p.m. ET: Press secretary Robert Gibbs said President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were relocated within the White House complex during the brief lockdown "out of an abundance of caution."
(Posted by David Jackson)
This happens more often that you think, and usually turns out to be a knapsack accidentally left outside the gate, or a plane that wanders into restricted space too close to the White House.
About 10 minutes later, the all clear was given and people could return to the sunshine. Word is it was a wandering airplane.
Update at 1:38 P.M. ET:From AP, "The episode was over within minutes as two F-16 fighter jets and two Coast Guard helicopters were dispatched and intercepted the plane. U.S. Northern Command spokesman Michael Kucharek says two helicopters established communications with the pilot and escorted the plane. The FAA says it landed at Indian Head Airport in Charles County, Maryland."
Authorities also took steps toward evacuating the Capitol. Writes the AP: "The Senate was in session, and briefly recessed. The House was not meeting."
Update at 2:33 p.m. ET: Press secretary Robert Gibbs said President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were relocated within the White House complex during the brief lockdown "out of an abundance of caution."
(Posted by David Jackson)