WASHINGTON - Federal officials say an airliner pilot inadvertently turned his radio to the wrong frequency, leading the plane to lose radio contact. Because of that, fighter jets were scrambled out of Andrews Air Force Base and the U.S. Capitol complex was evacuated Saturday.Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters says the agency is reviewing the "pilot readback error."
The loss of contact with the flight led to a brief evacuation of the U.S. Capitol and all Senate and House buildings.
Piedmont Airlines flight 4352 was flying from Hilton Head, S.C., to Reagan National Airport when it lost radio contact with air traffic controllers for about 15 minutes, Federal Aviation Administration officials said.
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.
F-16 fighter jets were scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base, but the airliner was able to re-establish radio contact and landed at Reagan, said Stacey Knott, a spokeswoman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Contact with the flight was reestablished, the evacuation was called off and the flight landed at Reagan National.
The evacuation order issued around 1:30 p.m. was called off about a half hour later.
U.S. Capitol Police sent Capitol Hill 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.
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