We are now MUCH better prepared after 9-11: Jets Scramble After NYC Plane Crash
Oct 12, 12:40 AM EDT
By ROBERT WELLER
Associated Press Writer
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DENVER (AP) -- The military sent dozens of fighter jets Wednesday to patrol the skies over New York, Washington, and other U.S. and Canadian cities minutes after a small plane crashed into a New York City high-rise.
Adm. Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. Northern Command, told The Associated Press that military officials knew it was not likely a terrorist act "about a half an hour after it happened."
"This is a significant event," he later said at a news conference. "My first reaction when I saw an airplane going into a building in New York City was, "Oh no, we've got another 9/11."
Officials said the single-engine plane, carrying New York Yankee Cory Lidle, slammed into a skyscraper, killing the pitcher and a second person. There was no official confirmation of Lidle's death from city officials.
About 2 1/2 hours after the incident, many of the military aircraft were still aloft - some of them being refueled by tankers, Keating said. He said cities covered also included Los Angeles and Seattle.
Keating said he ordered the fighters to be scrambled immediately after seeing information about the crash on television. The aircraft "were in the air in less than 10 minutes," he said, adding, "We assumed it was (a terrorist act) until we were confident it wasn't."
"The fact we were able to have dozens of fighters airborne in a very brief period of time ... sends a message to the terrorists that we're ready to respond."
The North American Aerospace Defense Command said that the patrols would continue for some time and that the fighters then would remain on high alert. NORAD would not provide details on the flights or at what point they would be discontinued.
The military would not say exactly how many fighters were on patrol or identify exactly which cities had fighters circling the skies, citing security reasons.
In addition to the fighters, the military sent up other support aircraft, including Airborne Warning and Control System and tankers. AWACS planes are used to coordinate the flights of the fighters and to track any other aircraft in the area.
One military official said it was likely that Air National Guard aircraft from some of the 10 fighter wings of the First Air Force were among those scrambled for patrols. The 10 wings are based in California, Florida, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Vermont and Virginia.
U.S. Northern Command was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to ensure that the military is prepared for security threats inside U.S. borders.
"We were better prepared" than for Sept. 11, Keating said. "We executed the plan that we have exercised. Those assets are in place 24/7, 365 days."
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Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.
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On the Net:
NORAD: norad.mil |
