The US military deployed F-16 fighter jets to trail an unresponsive pilot in a light aircraft after it violated airspace near Washington, DC.
The pursuit ended catastrophically when the aircraft crashed into the mountains of Virginia, leaving no survivors at the crash site, as reported by the Virginia state police.
Jet fighters pursued the Cessna Citation, leading to a sonic boom over Washington, DC that alarmed residents in the area. Four people were aboard the Cessna.
First responders arrived at the crash site several hours later and found no signs of life. Flight-tracking data revealed that the Cessna was registered to Encore Motors, based in Melbourne, Florida.
John Rumpel, the owner of Encore Motors, expressed his ignorance about the crash, maintaining ongoing communication with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He revealed that his daughter, grandchild, and a nanny were on board the plane.
The US military attempted to contact the unresponsive pilot, who remained unreachable until the Cessna crashed near the George Washington National Forest in Virginia. NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) explained that the supersonic speed of the NORAD aircraft and the resulting sonic boom could have been audible to residents in the region. The command also deployed flares in an attempt to capture the pilot’s attention. A US official confirmed that the fighter jets were not responsible for the crash.
The Cessna was originally traveling to Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York. However, it deviated significantly from its flight path after reaching the New York area, executing an almost 180-degree turn.
The sonic boom generated significant disturbance in the Washington area, prompting many people to share their experiences on social media. Reports of the sound reached as far as northern Virginia and Maryland.