The Associated Press has just reported that two F-16 fighter jets had intercepted an aircraft being flown by a 75 year old woman who had strayed into restricted airspace during President Barack Obama’s visit this week to Chicago for his 50th birthday. Specifically, Myrtle Rose was flying a Kitfox Model 2 a kit airplane that lacked a radio. Hence, air traffic controllers could not reach her and the F-16s were summoned to escort her to the nearest airport.
A North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) official commented about the incident that with such temporary flight restrictions:
“…there are no lines drawn in the air. It’s sometimes a little hard to tell where you’re at. Typically, it’s just a mistake."
No doubt she was fairly surprised herself to see F-16s pull up along side of her. Of course, that might give her a good reason to pay more closer attention to the news as well as to any NORAD issued warnings about air space restrictions!
It's too bad that she got into the airspace, but KUDOS to Myrtle for being out there flying! Did she build the Kitfox too?