Washington Goes On Brief Alert When Rogue Pilot Lands On Capitol Lawn

• See eyewitness video below.

A Florida mailman fed up with the government landed his gyrocopter onto the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon, prompting police to investigate with bomb-sniffing dogs and close roads in the center of Washington.

The pilot, Doug Hughes, has been detained by U.S. Capitol Police, according to several news reports. Hughes hails from Ruskin, in Hillsborough County, Fla.

Hughes told the Tampa Bay Tribune before his trip that he planned to use a video camera and cell phone and tested a livestream video feed from his gyrocopter. He built a website offline that explains his actions.

“I’m demanding reform and declaring a voter’s rebellion in a manner consistent with Jefferson’s description of rights in the Declaration of Independence,” Hughes wrote in letters to members of Congress. “As a member of Congress, you have three options. 1. You may pretend corruption does not exist. 2. You may pretend to oppose corruption while you sabotage reform. 3. You may actively participate in real reform.”

Hughes told the newspaper he planned to fly “low and slow” to deter any military planes that might try to stop him.

The newspaper contacted both the Secret Service as well as U.S. Capitol Police before Hughes landed. Both reportedly told the newspaper that they didn’t know anything about it.

The landing caused something of a panic inside the Capitol, which went on lockdown Wednesday afternoon. It was the second incident within a few days. Over the weekend, a man shot himself, also on the West Lawn which also sent the Capitol into lockdown mode.

On Wednesday afternoon, Hughes was met as he landed by police who were pointing guns at him, in front of stunned onlookers, according to social media reports. After he was hustled away, a man could be seen on live television in full protective gear checking the contraption for bombs.