NORAD Scrambles Fighters

Oct. 13, 2006

NORAD sent aloft several fighter aircraft at various bases around the country Oct. 11 in response to the airplane that crashed into a New York City high rise—just in case. An initial statement said: “While every indication is that today’s crash was an accident, NORAD leadership sees the deployment of the fighters as a prudent measure at this time.” The scramble, which NORAD said came within “minutes after the crash,” included fighters, tankers, and an E-3 AWACS. News reports from around the country identified some of the aircraft: F-16s from Michigan and Texas Air National Guard units and F-15s from the Massachusetts ANG.

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