F-16 intercepts prop plane as Bush visit halts air show

HAGERSTOWN, Md. – A presidential no-fly zone took some of the air out of an air show Sunday, but added one unscheduled event: a sleek fighter jet flying circles around a small propeller plane, piloted by someone who evidently didn’t get the message.

The plane was one of at least four headed to a charity air show that were intercepted by F-16s on Sunday and escorted out of the area, which was restricted air space because President Bush was nearby.

Bush was speaking at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, about 26 miles from the benefit for the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Hagerstown Aviation Museum.

Several pilots were unaware of the security measures; in some cases they were flying antique planes that carried no radios. A dozen planes flew into the area, causing the North American Aerospace Defense Command to scramble its fighters.

Most were warned off, but four planes were intercepted, escorted to nearby airports and forced to land.

Meanwhile, at the annual event, attendees were staring at an empty sky, wondering when the show was about to start when they saw an F-16 flying around a Grumman Tiger, a propeller-driven four-seater built in 1976.

It was hair-raising, said Tracey Potter, owner of Hagerstown Aircraft Services Inc.

“The F-16 is an evil, menacing scary sound, and at the same time – amazing.”

Laura Brown, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the pilots would not have had the problem if they had been using radios. She said all pilots have a responsibility to check the agency’s notifications.

The pilots, who were being interviewed by the Secret Service, could face penalties, including suspension of their license, Brown said.