MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The pilot of a small airplane got a military escort from F-16 fighter jets for apparently flying into presidential air space over Wisconsin.
Two F-16s intercepted the small Cessna on Tuesday and escorted it to Dodge County Airport, The Wisconsin State Journal (https://bit.ly/2tmefSS ) reported. The airport is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Pewaukee, where President Donald Trump was touring Waukesha County Technical College.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported the plane violated restricted air space, according to Dodge County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Smith said. Smith said that means the plane likely violated restricted air space due to Trump’s visit.
The pilot lives in Burlington, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Pewaukee, and was unaware of the air space restriction, Smith said.
The F-16s didn’t land at the small airport. The military aircraft likely came from Truax Field at the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said.
The planes created a lot of noise overhead and stirred conversation in the area, but there was no threat to the public, Schmidt said on Facebook.
He said the event was a good reminder that pilots should always double check flight plans to make sure they’re not flying into restricted air space.
“No one wants an F-16 on their tail,” Schmidt said.
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Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, https://www.madison.com/wsj
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