White House & Capitol Evacuated - Liveblogging

From TV and radio coverage, it's being reported that a small aircraft violated restricted airspace over Washington. As a result, the White House, its grounds, and the Capitol were ordered evacuated. Fighter jets were scrambled. The President was not in the White House at the time.

12:18pm - All clear

CNN reports that about 15 minutes transpired between first alert and all clear.

FAA reports that the violator was a small Cessna aircraft which is being escorted to a landing site.

[Update @ 12:58pm] - Cessna diverted to Frederick, MD, and the pilot is in custody of Maryland State Police and federal agents. The Supreme Court and the Treasury were also evacuated when the alert was initiated. The aircraft came from Lancaster, PA.

The fighter jets scrambled were F-16s along with a Blackhawk helicopter. Operation designated as Operation Noble Eagle. When in the air, the fighters fired two flares to catch the attention of the Cessna pilot.

MSNBC has an aerial shot of the Cessna on the runway with at least six vehicles around it. Blackhawk menacingly a few yard distant on the grass. They report that the plane was about two minutes away from Capitol when diverted. I count about fifteen people in the area around the plane.

[Update @ 1:15] White House Briefing - Scott McClellan

11:59 - Threat level raised to yellow ...
12:00 - Fighter jets scrambled ...
12:01 - Threat level to orange ...
12:03 - Threat level to red ...
12:11 - Threat level back to yellow ...
12:14 - All Clear.

Reported that the plane was three miles away when diverted. Reported that President Bush's motorcade is heading back to White House from his bike ride.

For some reason, efforts to communicate with the pilot resulted in no response. Blackhawk helicopter is believed to be assigned to Customs Enforcement.

[Update @ 1:24] - Live aerial shot shows Cessna being towed down the runway followed by a caravan of sedans.

1:31 - Plane has been parked. I have the feeling that the pilot may have to wait a while to get it back.

1:40 - Shows over.