Spokane7
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August 17, 2010 in Region
Fighters sent after violation of Air Force 1 space
Lee Daily, left, is interviewed by an agent of the United States Secret Service at Kenmore Air Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, in Kenmore, Wash. Daily’s float plane, crossing the Cascade mountain range headed to Seattle from Lake Chelan, violated the exclusion zone set up to protect President Barack Obama during his trip to the west coast.
(Full-size photo)
SEATTLE — A passenger aboard a float plane that violated the airspace around Air Force One while President Obama was in town today was stunned to find out about the fuss that resulted, saying the incursion wasn’t intentional.
The military scrambled fighter jets, and the two sonic booms from the Air National Guard F-15s startled many people throughout the Puget Sound area.
The Cessna 180 float plane was flying to a seaplane base on Lake Washington, next to Seattle, from Lake Chelan in Eastern Washington, said passenger Laura Joseph, of Normandy Park. She told the Associated Press that neither she nor the pilot, Lee Daily, knew about Obama’s visit or the air restrictions that accompany such a high-profile trip.
The Secret Service interviewed Daily after he landed at Kenmore Air on the north end of the lake, which had been shut down for the duration of the presidential campaign stop.
North American Aerospace Defense Command spokesman John Cornelio said the civilian aircraft had left the restricted area before the two jets arrived from the Portland-based 142nd Fighter Wing and that there was no intercept. He confirmed the jets produced the sonic booms.
Joseph said she saw an F-15 outside the window as the plane approached Seattle.
“I saw a jet, just a white jet going by,” she said. “I thought it was kind of odd to see a military jet.”
The fighter only passed by the float plane once and didn’t take any other action, Joseph said.
Joseph said she and Daily didn’t know anything was wrong until they landed and were told they had to talk to the Secret Service. She also said she didn’t hear the sonic booms.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe — is this the top news thing?” she said.
Joseph said she and Daily were allowed to leave after being interviewed by the Secret Service and haven’t heard anything yet about possible sanctions.
Obama was in Seattle to stump for Sen. Patty Murray on a three-day campaign swing for endangered Democrats. Air Force One was on the ground at King County International Airport/Boeing Field in south Seattle at the time of the incident shortly after 1:30 p.m. The president’s plane departed Seattle at 3:47.
The two sharp booms, a few seconds apart, rattled windows in Seattle. Fire and police officials throughout the region said they were swamped with calls.
Oregon Air National Guard Staff Sgt. John Hughel said the F-15s were scrambled by NORAD from Portland International Airport. He said the guard has two fighters on alert at all times to patrol the air space from central California to the Canadian border.
© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Children permitted at Washington prison powwows 
TALKJOC on August 17 at 2:53 p.m.
Portland, for heaven’s sake! Aren’t there planes at Whidby island Navel Station. By the time the F-16s got there something could have happened. Strange.
misjustice on August 17 at 3:03 p.m.
I thought it was strange also, talkjoc…maybe there will be an update on the story.
jerrysw on August 17 at 3:23 p.m.
They don’t have F15’s, Whidbey is a naval air base. An F15 could probably get there quicker, even from Portland.
dtmelin on August 17 at 4:02 p.m.
144 miles from seattle to portland…..
at 1500mph, an F15 would be on scene in less than 6 minutes.
probably enough time for something to happen….but I’m sure Air Force 1 could outrun a float plane!
misjustice on August 17 at 4:34 p.m.
Thanks for the update, SR! ; )
spokanecommunistparty on August 17 at 5:07 p.m.
Democrats are hardly endangered, Republicans had 911 happen on their watch and a great depression, and the Iraq WMD war. It looks pretty bad for the Republicans. Dino any is hardly a threat.
mlcgruhlke on August 17 at 5:53 p.m.
Sounds like pilot didn’t know about Air Force One. Why all the fuss over this float plane? Air Force One should have contacted all civilian aviation terminals and informed them of their impending arrival so that not to interfere with them. And why, tell me, can the President fly around everywhere just where he pleases and then everyone else has to change their plans? To get another stupid Democrat re-elected????
Enjoy the White House for a few more months Obama, because you’re OUT after one term of doing not one damn thing for this country except cost us more money, jobs, etc, etc, etc. while you and First Lady take vacation after vacation, after vacation, after vacation……………………………………
What a joke for a President.
Orange on August 17 at 5:54 p.m.
Dino for Gov. :)
I see Murray is costing our state (and Oregon) more money.
lewis8457 on August 17 at 5:54 p.m.
our tax dollars at work just so O’mama can campaign for another loser what did that cost us 2 million?
spokanada on August 17 at 6:33 p.m.
mlcgruhlke, obama isn’t up for re-election in November. He will be in power for more than a few “months”.
And why are you complaining about vacations when W. set the record for most vacation days of any president. What money has Obama cost the country? When you try and give an answer please use percentages and compare it to the two terms that Bush gave us.
Spokane_Citizen on August 17 at 6:59 p.m.
To the Obama haters in here. This wasn’t an ‘Obama’ thing, or peculiar to the Obama administration. Air Force One ALWAYS has had priority over any other aircraft (military or civilian), in the air or on the ground. Whatever airfield Air Force one has landed on (from the biggest international facility, to the smallest regional airport) runways are ALWAYS shut down for the duration of the President’s time at the airport (and during landings and take-offs).
We’re talking about the security of the Commander in Chief….who, regardless of party, must be protected, since the leader of our country is a prime target for any enemy action, foreign or domestic. I can’t understand why anyone would think a floatplane (or any other unauthorized aircraft) in Air Force One’s (or Marine Corps One….the President’s helicopter) airspace isn’t a very serious potential threat.