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CNN Live Saturday
Small Planes Violate Restricted Airspace
Aired September 21, 2002 - 17:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Small planes frying in restricted airspace near a presidential residence may not be a daily occurrence, but, as CNN's Kathleen Koch reports, it has happened all too often since September 11.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The White House being evacuated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Plane overhead.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Seven times since the terrorists attacks, planes have flown into prohibited airspace near the White House. But over other presidential residences, the problem is worse. One hundred and four violations over Camp David, 46 over the presidential ranch at Crawford.
For example, August 31, President Bush at his ranch. At 10:29, a small plane flies into the off-limits airspace overhead, another at 10:44, and yet another 12 minutes later. Five total that weekend, intercepted by fighter jets. And in the skies over Maryland, it is easy to wander close to Camp David.
(on camera): Are we right along the edge of the prohibited airspace over Camp David?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are right on the edge of it, that's correct.
KOCH (voice-over): And in some cases, easy to get away. An Ultralight similar to this one did. Secret Service agents spotted it directly overhead the weekend of June 29, while the president was there, and military pilots couldn't track it.
(on camera): And you don't show up on radar?
DICK BAKER, PILOT: These wouldn't show up on radar.
KOCH (voice-over): Dick Baker doesn't think planes like his pose a threat, but admits...
BAKER: Yes, I could pop over a tree and surprise somebody who didn't know I was coming.
KOCH: The Secret Service won't comment on the threat, but the incidents are documented on public records, and the FBI and other government agencies have publicly said they are concerned.
ART CUMMINGS, FBI: We have seen terrorist organizations looking at everything as small as Ultralights to deliver weapons of mass destruction. And I hate that term as well, because it's so broad. Chem/bio.
KOCH (on camera): Part of the problem is, believe it or not, there haven't been maps of the off-limits airspace.
(voice-over): So the FAA for the first time in July began posting the charts on the Internet.
Another issue: Penalties are light -- generally, retraining. Flight instructor Jim Willis proposes one drastic solution.
JIM WILLIS, ULTRALIGHT INSTRUCTOR: When somebody approaches, shoot them down. I mean, that will solve the problem very quickly.
KOCH: Serious or not, jets can't always scramble in time. But the government says measures, some visible, some not, are in place if a plane becomes a threat to the president.
TOM BLANK, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: It's suffice to say that preparations are made to take the proper steps to defend Washington and to defend what's inside the other restricted airspaces around the country.
KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 21, 2002 - 17:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Small planes frying in restricted airspace near a presidential residence may not be a daily occurrence, but, as CNN's Kathleen Koch reports, it has happened all too often since September 11.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The White House being evacuated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Plane overhead.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Seven times since the terrorists attacks, planes have flown into prohibited airspace near the White House. But over other presidential residences, the problem is worse. One hundred and four violations over Camp David, 46 over the presidential ranch at Crawford.
For example, August 31, President Bush at his ranch. At 10:29, a small plane flies into the off-limits airspace overhead, another at 10:44, and yet another 12 minutes later. Five total that weekend, intercepted by fighter jets. And in the skies over Maryland, it is easy to wander close to Camp David.
(on camera): Are we right along the edge of the prohibited airspace over Camp David?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are right on the edge of it, that's correct.
KOCH (voice-over): And in some cases, easy to get away. An Ultralight similar to this one did. Secret Service agents spotted it directly overhead the weekend of June 29, while the president was there, and military pilots couldn't track it.
(on camera): And you don't show up on radar?
DICK BAKER, PILOT: These wouldn't show up on radar.
KOCH (voice-over): Dick Baker doesn't think planes like his pose a threat, but admits...
BAKER: Yes, I could pop over a tree and surprise somebody who didn't know I was coming.
KOCH: The Secret Service won't comment on the threat, but the incidents are documented on public records, and the FBI and other government agencies have publicly said they are concerned.
ART CUMMINGS, FBI: We have seen terrorist organizations looking at everything as small as Ultralights to deliver weapons of mass destruction. And I hate that term as well, because it's so broad. Chem/bio.
KOCH (on camera): Part of the problem is, believe it or not, there haven't been maps of the off-limits airspace.
(voice-over): So the FAA for the first time in July began posting the charts on the Internet.
Another issue: Penalties are light -- generally, retraining. Flight instructor Jim Willis proposes one drastic solution.
JIM WILLIS, ULTRALIGHT INSTRUCTOR: When somebody approaches, shoot them down. I mean, that will solve the problem very quickly.
KOCH: Serious or not, jets can't always scramble in time. But the government says measures, some visible, some not, are in place if a plane becomes a threat to the president.
TOM BLANK, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: It's suffice to say that preparations are made to take the proper steps to defend Washington and to defend what's inside the other restricted airspaces around the country.
KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
