No survivors found after plane that flew over DC and led to fighter jet scramble crashes in Virginia

48

On Sunday afternoon, an unresponsive business plane flew over the nation’s capital, leading to the scramble of a fighter jet before ultimately crashing in Virginia, according to officials. The fighter jet’s rapid response caused a resounding sonic boom that reverberated throughout the capital region.

Several hours later, authorities confirmed that rescuers had arrived at the crash site in a rural area of the Shenandoah Valley. Unfortunately, no survivors were found among the wreckage.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the Cessna Citation departed from Elizabethtown, Tennessee, on Sunday, with its destination set for Long Island’s MacArthur Airport. However, inexplicably, the plane abruptly reversed its course over Long Island, New York, and flew directly over Washington, D.C. before crashing in the mountainous terrain near Montebello, Virginia, around 3:30 p.m.

The reason for the plane’s unresponsiveness, the cause of the crash, and the number of individuals aboard remained unclear. Despite flying over the highly restricted airspace of the nation’s capital, the plane proceeded without communication or deviation.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to The Big Big News that the military jet had scrambled in response to the unresponsive plane, which subsequently crashed. The official, however, lacked authorization to disclose further details of the military operation.

Flight tracking sites displayed a dramatic descent for the jet, spiraling rapidly and descending at a rate exceeding 30,000 feet per minute before plummeting into the St. Mary’s Wilderness.

Later, the North American Aerospace Defense Command acknowledged that the F-16 fighter jet was authorized to travel at supersonic speeds, resulting in a sonic boom heard across Washington, Virginia, and Maryland.

“In an attempt to gain the pilot’s attention,” stated the command, “the NORAD aircraft deployed flares, which may have been visible to the public. It is crucial to emphasize that flares are used with utmost consideration for the safety of the intercepted aircraft and individuals on the ground. Flares burn out swiftly and completely, posing no danger to people on the ground.”

Virginia State Police received notification of the potential crash shortly before 4 p.m., and rescue teams reached the crash site on foot approximately four hours later. Tragically, no survivors were located, as confirmed by the police.

The crashed plane was registered to Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc, a Florida-based company. John Rumpel, the owner of the company, informed The New York Times that his daughter, 2-year-old granddaughter, their nanny, and the pilot were aboard the ill-fated flight. They were returning to their home in East Hampton, Long Island, after visiting Rumpel’s house in North Carolina.

Rumpel, who is also a pilot, expressed his lack of information from authorities but expressed hope that his family had not suffered. He suggested that the plane may have experienced a loss of pressurization.

“I don’t believe they’ve located the wreckage yet,” Rumpel conveyed to the newspaper. “The descent rate was 20,000 feet per minute, and surviving a crash at that speed seems unlikely.”

When reached for comment, Barbara Rumpel, listed as the company’s president, declined to speak on Sunday.

The incident evoked memories of the 1999 crash involving a Learjet carrying professional golfer Payne Stewart. The jet, which had lost cabin pressure, flew aimlessly across the country before crashing in a South Dakota pasture, resulting in the loss of six lives.

At the time of the fighter jet’s scramble, President Joe Biden was playing golf at Joint Base Andrews. Anthony Guglielmi, spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service, confirmed that the incident did not affect the president’s activities on Sunday. Biden had been golfing with his brother at the Maryland military base in the afternoon.

A White House official stated that the president had been briefed on the crash and that the sound of the scrambling aircraft was faint at Joint Base Andrews.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about plane crash in Virginia

More about plane crash

• CNN: No survivors found after plane that flew over DC and led to fighter jet scramble crashes in Virginia
• The Washington Post: Plane crashes in Virginia after flying over DC; no survivors found
• NBC News: Small plane crashes in Virginia after flying over D.C., officials say
• ABC News: Unresponsive plane flies over Washington, D.C., before crashing in Virginia