Joint Base Andrews Lockdown Ends, No Armed Person Found

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MD — Joint Base Andrews in Maryland was locked down Thursday for about 3.5 hours after an armed person was reported near base housing, base officials confirmed on social media.

Officials reported the lockdown around 2:30 p.m., according to the post. The emergency was lifted at 6 p.m. with no reports of an arrest.

A spokesperson for the base said there was no active shooter threat and no shots were fired. There was no report of injuries.

Base security personnel searched for a white man wearing a purple sweatshirt and black shorts. Officials said he was carrying an AR-15-style rifle with no orange tip.

"Security Forces has swept the base and will continue to go door-to-door at Base Housing. Out of an abundance of caution, there remains an increased Security Forces presence on base," authorities said.

Joint Base Andrews, located a few miles outside Washington, D.C., is home to the fleet of blue and white presidential aircraft, including Air Force One and the “doomsday” 747 aircraft that can serve as the nation’s airborne nuclear command and control centers if needed.

Last month, an intruder breached the base and gained access to part of the base’s housing complex. A resident opened fire on the trespasser.

In February 2021, a man got through the military checkpoint onto the installation, then through additional fenced secure areas to gain access to the flight line and climb into a C-40, the military’s 737-equivalent aircraft used to fly government officials.

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The Associated Press contributed to this story.