The Associated Press has just reported that two F-16 fighter jets had intercepted an aircraft being flown by a 75 year old woman who had strayed into restricted airspace during President Barack Obama’s visit this week to Chicago for his 50th birthday. Specifically, Myrtle Rose was flying a Kitfox Model 2 a kit airplane that lacked a radio. Hence, air traffic controllers could not reach her and the F-16s were summoned to escort her to the nearest airport.
A North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) official commented about the incident that with such temporary flight restrictions:
“…there are no lines drawn in the air. It’s sometimes a little hard to tell where you’re at. Typically, it’s just a mistake."
No doubt she was fairly surprised herself to see F-16s pull up along side of her. Of course, that might give her a good reason to pay more closer attention to the news as well as to any NORAD issued warnings about air space restrictions!
