Stray airliner prompts Hill evacuation – Jonathan Allen and John Maggs – POLITICO.com

A commercial airliner strayed into restricted airspace around the Capitol on Saturday, triggering an evacuation of the complex and the scrambling of fighter jets from Andrews Air Force Base.

The Piedmont Airlines DHC-8 Dash 8 turboprop, en route to Reagan National Airport from Hilton Head, S.C., lost contact with air traffic controllers due to a crew error, which triggered security measures put in place after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Piedmont is a subsidiary of U.S. Airways.

via Stray airliner prompts Hill evacuation – Jonathan Allen and John Maggs – POLITICO.com.