F-16 Fighters Intercept Plane Flying Over Protected Airspace

ROCKVILLE, MD — On Saturday, two F-16 fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft that had entered protected airspace over D.C. without proper clearance, according to multiple outlets.

Fox 5 DC reported that the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) ordered a pair of fighter jets to investigate the civilian aircraft after it did not communicate with air traffic control and entered the Special Rules Flight Area that surrounds D.C. at about 9:30 p.m.

Soon after, people said they heard plane noises in D.C. and Montgomery County.

"Did anyone else hear that?," one Reddit user asked on Montgomery County's sub-reddit, explaining that it sounded like a "loud sonic boom."

Replying to the question, another Reddit user said: "It's been going on for the last 10 minutes or so by Montgomery Village. It sounds like jets going back and forth. My dogs are not amused."

NORAD spokesman Major Mark Lazane said the civilian pilot made contact with air traffic control and then landed at the nearest airport without incident, according to WTOP.

"As part of NORAD's homeland defense efforts, NORAD aircraft responded, but prior to intercept, the civilian pilot established positive communications and immediately landed at the nearest airport,"Lazane said.