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Plane over Capitol prompts second Orange alert in week |
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By Jordy Yager and Kris Kitto
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Posted: 03/12/08 07:36 PM [ET] |
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A small airplane flew into restricted airspace over the Capitol Wednesday, prompting the second Code Orange alert in the last week.
The plane was safely redirected and later landed in Leesburg, Va. Police are investigating the issue, according to U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider.
Though Capitol Police said they did not call an official evacuation, hundreds of people streamed out of the Senate-side exits, were directed by Capitol police to Russell Park and held there until the officers determined the situation was safe.People were then let back inside.
Last week Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) was escorted out of the Capitol after air traffic controllers lost contact with an airplane that flew into restricted space. Neither House nor Senate sessions were disrupted. Actors Tom Hanks and Paul Giamatti, who were in Statuary Hall for an HBO reception, stayed put as well.
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