Poor flight planning is blamed for the incursion into prohibited airspace over Washington DC by a Cessna 150 on 11 May, which has set back industry efforts to have restrictions on general aviation around the US capital eased. The aircraft, with two pilots on board, was en route from Smoketown airport in Pennsylvania to Lumberton, North Carolina, when it strayed into the air defence identification zone over Washington, coming within 4.8km (2.6nm) of the Capitol. The aircraft, reportedly with a failed radio, was intercepted by flare-dispensing US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16s and escorted to Frederick airport in Maryland. The two pilots disembarked at gunpoint and were handcuffed, detained for questioning and later released.
Source: Flight International
