The pilot of the Cessna
was escorted by the helicopter crew to Leesburg, Va.,
Regional Airport.
The pilot landed and was
met by Loudoun County Sheriff's Department personnel and
federal law enforcement officials.
"The Coast Guard's unique
authorities and competencies as both a military service and
a federal law enforcement agency enable us to assume
permanent responsibility for executing the vital mission of
protecting the National Capital Region airspace for the
Department of Homeland Security in support of NORAD's
multi-layered air defense mission," said Adm. Thad W. Allen,
Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard.
With its rotary-wing air
intercept capability, the Coast Guard has been directed to
support the NORAD mission, called Operation NOBLE EAGLE
(ONE). The Coast Guard is coordinating with other military
and civilian agencies to complement NORAD's overall
multi-layered air defense of critical infrastructure and
personnel.
Since the fall of 2006,
Coast Guard aircrews from Air Station Atlantic City, N.J.,
have begun forward-deploying to the Air Defense Facility at
Reagan National Airport in Washington. From there, the crews
are responsible for launching to intercept and determine the
intent of low-altitude, slow-airspeed aircraft that may
enter National Capital Region airspace.
