[snopercod]

Today: November 10, 2003 at 9:14:52 PST

Jets Intercept Plane Near White House

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) - Air Force fighter jets were scrambled Monday to intercept a privately owned plane that flew too close to the White House, the Secret Service said.

President Bush was away at the time, on a trip to Arkansas and South Carolina.

The privately owned plane was detected flying in a southwest direction, coming down the Potomac River, when it entered restricted airspace, said Secret Service spokeswoman Jean Mitchell.

The fighters were scrambled from nearby Andrews Air Force in Maryland and they intercepted the plane, escorting it out of the area, she said.

"Anytime we have an airspace violation, we take it very seriously," Mitchell said. "At this point we don't know if it was a mistake."

She said the pilot would be questioned.

[DannyTN]

"She said the pilot would be questioned. "

I bet that's the understatement of the year. Given the warning yesterday that was specific to Bush saying tomorrow he would be sorry, I bet this guy gets the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th degrees.