U.S. Sends Fighter Jets To Unresponsive Aircraft In Atlantic
Two U.S. fighter jets were reportedly sent up to check on an unresponsive small aircraft traveling over the Atlantic Ocean on Friday.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported via Twitter today that it had sent up two F-15 fighter jets to investigate a non-responsive Socata TBM-700 plane that had been traveling from New York to Florida.
Although the jets were in the process of investigating the plane, The Washington Post reported that around 1:30 p.m. the fighter jets broke off from their investigation once the small aircraft entered Cuban airspace.
NORAD reports that the pilots of the plane may be unresponsive due to a lack of oxygen in the aircraft's cabin. Although the plane has now entered Cuban airspace, NORAD says it will continue monitoring the plane's activity along with the Federal Aviation Administration.
"The Socata TBM-700 light business and utility aircraft departed Rochester, N.Y., with a flight plan filed to land in Naples, Fla., however the plane's occupants did not respond to attempts to communicate," NORAD said in a press release on Friday.
"NORAD continues to monitor the situation in close coordination with the FAA. More information will be made available as it emerges."
As USA Today reports, the U.S. has been more cautious with unresponsive aircraft since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Earlier this week, two fighter jets were sent up to escort a plane that had lost communication while in route from Wisconsin to Virginia. Eventually, the plane crashed in the Atlantic Ocean.
