Lawmaker: Gyrocopter Pilot Flew 30 Miles In Restricted Space
WASHINGTON (WJZ)—New information after a gyrocopter lands at the Capitol last week. It appears the device was in the government's crosshairs the whole time.
Alex DeMetrick reports, that means it did not sneak under the radar.
A Florida mailman's bid for attention last week generated plenty of it, as he flew his gyrocopter past the White House for a landing on the grounds of the Capitol.
It looked like the small copter had slipped through some of the most secure airspace in the world undetected. It now appears Doug Hughes was on the radar screen, after a classified congressional hearing Wednesday.
"He is lucky. He should have been blown out of the air and very well could have been," said Rep. Jason Chaffetz.
Committee members confirmed multiple weapons were trained on the gyrocopter as it approached the Capitol after traveling 30 miles through restricted airspace, but a judgement call held back fire because of the threat it posed to people on the ground.
"This is a wake-up call for all of us and all of the agencies," said Rep. Elijah Cummings.
"What agencies were tracking and targeting is unclear, and it didn't help the committee when the FAA, NORAD and Park Police did not appear" Cummings said.
"They chose not to brief us today," said Chaffetz.
Another hearing will be held next week and Cumming's committee is demanding the FAA, NORAD and Park Police show up this time.
"It's our responsibility to make sure we push them to make sure they're doing everything they can do," said Cummings.
Because it now appears Doug Hughes came very close to drawing more than just attention.
