NORAD jets responds to aircraft in National Capital Region

April 18, 2011

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Two F-16 fighter jets under the direction of North American Aerospace Defense Command scrambled today at approximately 2:30 EST in response to a general aviation aircraft that was out of communication in the National Capital Region.

The fighter jets, from Andrews Air Force Base, intercepted the general aviation aircraft, which then exited the flight restricted area. The fighters then returned to base.

NORAD's mission – in close collaboration with homeland defense, security, and law enforcement partners – is to prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America. NORAD may be required to monitor, shadow, divert from flight path, direct to land and/or destroy platforms deemed a potential threat to North America.

NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that provides maritime warning, aerospace warning and aerospace control for Canada and the United States. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.