by David Nitkin and Brent Jones
The skies above Maryland's Camp David and the surrounding area were busy during President Bush's visit over the weekend.
There were about a dozen encroachments into off-limits airspace while the president was speaking yesterday at a ceremony for firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2006, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. All of the vioaltions appeared to be inadvertent.
All the planes drifted within 30 miles of where the president was speaking in Emmitsburg, Md., a no-fly zone that also included Camp David, the presidential retreat nestled near the cool top of the Catoctin Mountains. Four of the planes were escorted out of the area by F-16s.
The planes were headed to a benefit for the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Hagerstown Aviation Museum and apparently were unaware of the restriction, in part because they are antiques and carried no radios. Baker said the violations appeared to be unintentional.
The FAA is considering disciplinary action against the pilots, officials said. All the pilots are expected to be interviewed and could face license suspensions, said Holly Baker, a spokeswoman for the FAA.
In at least one instance, a plane was escorted to Westminster Airport in Carroll County, according to WTOP radio. The Associated Press and CBS News also reported on the violations
Bush stayed at the ceremony for fallen firefighters for more than an hour, presenting a rose, a medallion, a flag -- and embraces -- to family members of the fallen firefighters.
The president last attended the ceremony in 2001, hours before ordering military strikes in Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The president planned to return from Camp David, which is about an hour's drive north of Washington and closer via the Marine One helicopter, this afternoon.
David Nitkin and Brent Jones report for the Baltimore Sun, a Tribune Co. newspaper.
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Comments
Clear The Airspace, There's A Chimp On The Loose!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLgn4e6dyVs&mode=related&search=
Posted by: John E | October 8, 2007 12:46 PM
A thirty mile security radius?
Wow.
Makes 'security zone A' pretty laughable.
Posted by: C.Morris | October 8, 2007 12:54 PM
This just in....
It's a slow news day today.
Posted by: BobinATL | October 8, 2007 2:45 PM
Bush can only be safe with a 30 mile safety bubble around him that only includes those that are deluded by him? And has to have F-16's protect him from antique planes? Can't we just send him to Mars? He'll be safe there.
Posted by: DD | October 8, 2007 3:26 PM
Again Bush shows how much of a coward he is by having F-16 protect him from air attacks.
Posted by: allencheek | October 8, 2007 5:01 PM
DD & Allencheek,
My sarcasm detector must be malfunctioning today, because I can't tell if you're being serious, or just trying to be funny. I'll defer to the latter, since it would just be common sense to understand that every president receives such protection and that a no-fly zone includes all forms of aircraft.
Posted by: JB | October 8, 2007 6:05 PM
Whenever the Grand Presidente comes out of a secure underground bunker- all planes must land, all cars, trucks, trains, buses and anything else with a motor, -Worldwide, must stop immediately. All persons in the world must bow down to the President or be shot down, shot at or just shot… New DHS directive. Don’t you feel safer now?
Posted by: DHS, FAA | October 8, 2007 8:29 PM
Must be a very very slow news day.
I agree with JB that all Presidents have this same protection while at Camp David. President Bush is not being given any special treatment.
Posted by: Darkwater | October 9, 2007 10:31 AM
JB and Darkwater: Yes all presidents get this treatment, but only Bush has had it since he instituted it. So, King George is the ONLY president that has gotten this treatment.
Posted by: JB2 | October 10, 2007 8:50 AM
September 11th involved more than just New York (as many seem to forget). It also involved the Pentagon and what appeared to be another target...thanks to some true Americans, that plane was averted. As a member of our Armed Forces, I don't see why there are questions about why we protect our President this way. Be glad your country affords you the opportunity to speak your mind...and try to have some respect for the way our armed forces protect your way of life.
Posted by: Jamie | July 6, 2008 9:37 AM