Crime & Safety

Fighter Jets Escort Plane to MacArthur

Plane enters no-fly zone in place with President Obama in Connecticut.

Fighter jets were forced to intercept a wayward plane over Suffolk County Monday night after the small aircraft pierced a temporary no-fly zone, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). 

The plane was escorted to MacArthur Airport by two F-15 jets around 7 p.m. and landed without incident, according to a NORAD statement. 

The no-fly zone over the island was in effect because President Obama was campaigning in Connecticut Monday. 

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Officials have not released the identity of the pilot who was flying alone on a home-built Kitfox, the Daily News reported

A second aircraft also flying in a restricted area in New Haven, Conn., was intercepted by the fighter jets around 7:30 p.m. That plane was allowed to continue to its final destination, NORAD said.  

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Many local residents said they saw the jets soar over their homes. 

"I watched it fly over my house several times," Dan Olawski of Lake Ronkonkoma wrote on Facebook. "Was a little nerve-wracking." 

Have photos/video of the jets? Log into Patch and add them directly to the gallery or email them to matthew.mcgevna@patch.com 


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