Plane Causes Washington D.C. Buildings to Evacuate

A New Years Day surprise in Washington D.C. today.

The U.S. Capitol and all Senate and House buildings were briefly evacuated Saturday after air traffic controllers lost radio contact with a Piedmont flight from Hilton Head, S.C. to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Homeland Security was interviewing the pilots Saturday afternoon after their plane strayed into restricted airspace and forced that brief evacuation.

A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman tells WTOP the flight in question was Piedmont 4352.

U.S. Capitol Police spokewoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider says the plane entered restricted airspace heading toward the U.S. Capitol around 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The flight temporarily went out of radio contact with the air traffic controllers, the FAA says.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command scrambled jets after contact was lost.

Contact with the flight was reestablished, the evacuation was called off and the flight landed at Reagan National.

U.S. Capitol Police send House staffers the following e-mail to evacuate Saturday:

• An unauthorized aircraft has entered restricted air space.
• Evacuate immediately the Capitol, CHOB, LHOB and RHOB buildings.
• Remain calm and move in a safe manner to the exits.
• Close doors behind you, but do not lock. Avoid using elevators.
• Proceed south to an alternate assembly area.
• Check-in with your Office Emergency Coordinator at the alternate assembly area.
• Ford Building personnel remain inside the Ford building.

Piedmont is a wholly owned subsidiary of US Airways. Airline spokeswoman Tina Swail says the airline is working with local authorities to investigate the incident.