A loud explosion caused panic in the Washington, D.C. area Sunday afternoon. Flight trackers posted images of a private plane on the east coast that over-flew its destination, turned back and headed toward Washington, D.C. That reportedly prompted jets to be scrambled from to intercept the plane. Tracking shows the plane flew over D.C. and crashed in rural Virginia near Staunton.
https://twitter.com/AVintageAviator/status/1665431571791265794
https://twitter.com/AVintageAviator/status/1665437041415319554
https://twitter.com/AVintageAviator/status/1665439862302932995
“Cessna C560 jet flew right over Washington DC before contact was lost near Montebello, VA. Reports of a sonic boom were heard in the DC area, one could presume jets were scrambled to get eyes on the situatio”
After deviating from its planned landing in Ronkonkoma, NY, N611VG a Cessna C560 jet flew right over Washington DC before contact was lost near Montebello, VA. Reports of a sonic boom were heard in the DC area, one could presume jets were scrambled to get eyes on the situatio. pic.twitter.com/9pRDw79o6h
— Zach Halverson (@ZachHalverson) June 4, 2023
Annapolis, Maryland officials confirmed a sonic boom took place Sunday afternoon, explaining it was an authorized DOD flight, “The loud boom that was heard across the DMV area was caused by an authorized DOD flight. This flight caused a sonic boom. That is all the information available at this time.”
The loud boom that was heard across the DMV area was caused by an authorized DOD flight. This flight caused a sonic boom. That is all the information available at this time.
— Annapolis OEM (@AnnapolisOEM) June 4, 2023
It appears officials chose to let the plane fly over D.C. without alerting the public and without shooting it down, even with Joe Biden reportedly staying in D.C. this weekend.
BREAKING NEWS : we are getting reports that a Aircraft just crashed near Staunton, VA Fighter Jets didn't shoot it down after it was flying to low past Washington D.C. Unclear how many people were on board.
— Killmoenetwork inc. (@Killmoenetwork) June 4, 2023
Initial reports blamed the sonic boom on an Air National Guard exercise over Chesapeake Bay.
Oops. DC Air National Guard and an F-16 from Atlantic City. I think the AC F-16 went supersonic, according to the brilliant folks over at RadioReference. https://t.co/9tLO0W98t6
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) June 4, 2023
Home door video captured the sonic boom.
https://twitter.com/seymacetin777/status/1665443385333694465
Biden’s published schedule showed no travel this weekend.
UPDATE: FAA statement confirms crash.
Northern Command working on a statement:
Officials say @USNorthernCmd is working on statement for #sonicboom
Also have this from #FAA –
A Cessna Citation crashed into mountainous terrain in sparsely populated area of SW Va at ~3pm today. Took off from Elizabethton, TN, bound for Long Island MacArthur Airport, NY— Carla Babb (@CarlaBabbVOA) June 4, 2023
Video of alleged track of plane.
https://twitter.com/Eren50855570/status/1665453323594416129
