The FAA confirmed that a Cessna plane crashed in Virginia around 3 p.m. ET Sunday afternoon.
“Cessna plane crashes into ‘mountainous terrain’ in southwest Virginia; unsure if connected to loud noises heard throughout the DMV,” FOX 5 DC tweeted.
Cessna plane crashes into "mountainous terrain" in southwest Virginia; unsure if connected to loud noises heard throughout the DMV https://t.co/IYYBDrc3Qe
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) June 4, 2023
FOX 5 DC obtained this statement from the FAA:
“A Cessna Citation crashed into mountainous terrain in a sparsely populated area of southwest Virginia around 3 p.m. local time on June 4. The aircraft took off from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Elizabethton, Tenn., and was bound for Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and provide all further updates.”
CNN also reported the plane crash:
A small aircraft crashed in southwest Virginia Sunday afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
The aircraft, a Cessna Citation, took off from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and was bound for Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York.
Reports suggested the Cessna plane flew through a no-fly zone and near the White House and Capitol, prompting fighter jets to be scrambled.
BREAKING: The plane that crashed in Virginia was a Cessna Citation, flew through no-fly zone and close to the White House and the Capitol, prompting fighter jets to be scrambled.
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) June 4, 2023
“F-16 fighter jet from DC National Guard was ‘cleared supersonic to respond’ to unknown Cessna ignoring radio queries flying on ‘strange flight path’ outside nation’s capital, officials say. FAA says Cessna crashed near Staunton, Virginia,” Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson wrote.
UPDATE: F-16 fighter jet from DC National Guard was “cleared supersonic to respond” to unknown Cessna ignoring radio queries flying on “strange flight path” outside nation’s capital, officials say. FAA says Cessna crashed near Staunton, Virginia.
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) June 4, 2023
Flight path 👇 pic.twitter.com/eXt4aMF1xQ
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) June 4, 2023
From colleague Lucas Tomlinson. The F-16 fighter jet from DC National Guard was “cleared supersonic to respond” to unknown Cessna ignoring radio queries and flying on “strange flight path” outside nation’s capital, officials say.
FAA says Cessna crashed near Staunton, Virginia.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) June 4, 2023
It’s unclear if the Cessna plane crash is related to the ‘explosion‘ in the Washington DC area Sunday afternoon.
According to multiple reports, a “HUGE” explosion has rocked the D.C. area.
From Telegram, BioClandestine lives close and personally reported the following:
🚨 Dozens of people reported hearing a loud 'explosion' in the Washington D.C. area that shook houses and caused panic - though officials have not provided the cause of the loud bang. https://t.co/EOQ0Y99Wa8
— Lisa Mei (@TheNotoriousLMC) June 4, 2023
Andrew Leyden claimed: "DC Air National Guard conducted air defense drills over the Chesapeake Bay and was cleared to go supersonic during an alert scramble exercise."
Annapolis Explosion: DC Air National Guard conducted air defense drills over the Chesapeake Bay and was cleared to go supersonic during an alert scramble exercise.
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) June 4, 2023
Thanks to Mark at the RadioReference forum for the details. pic.twitter.com/gCsYVlvAyL
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) June 4, 2023
"Please note: UNCONFIRMED reports of a plane crash near Staunton VA, that may have attracted the interest of military aircraft. We are still trying to sort out all the information. DCANG was doing a drill, but there may have also been active alert aircraft in the skies too," Leyden added.
The FAA confirmed the Cessna plane crash after the above tweet.
Please note: UNCONFIRMED reports of a plane crash near Staunton VA, that may have attracted the interest of military aircraft. We are still trying to sort out all the information. DCANG was doing a drill, but there may have also been active alert aircraft in the skies too.
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) June 4, 2023
"The loud boom that was heard across the DMV area was caused by an authorized DOD flight. This flight caused a sonic boom. That is all the information available at this time," the City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management wrote.
The loud boom that was heard across the DMV area was caused by an authorized DOD flight. This flight caused a sonic boom. That is all the information available at this time.
— Annapolis OEM (@AnnapolisOEM) June 4, 2023
In a recently updated report, the Daily Mail said fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Cessna after it violated DC airspace.
A small plane that flew over a restricted area of Washington DC likely prompted the Pentagon to scramble an interceptor fighter jet Sunday afternoon.
The private Cessna jet from Elizabethton, Tennessee appeared unresponsive as it came close to both the US Capitol building and the White House at around 3.30pm, Federal Aviation Administration officials say.
The aircraft was on its way to Long Island, New York, but once it reached its destination, it turned around and headed back to Washington DC, flight paths show.
US military officials then scrambled fighter jets to pursue the Cessna Citation, which can only carry about 12 passengers.
Soon, authorities confirmed that an F-16 fighter plane broke the sound barrier over Chesapeake Bay, which caused a loud 'explosion' sound that shook houses and created widespread panic.
The aircraft eventually crashed in the mountainous regions of Virginia, though military officials deny that the pursuit caused the crash.
The Department of Homeland Security said there is no threat at this time.
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