The U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress were briefly evacuated after a small aircraft entered the air space around Washington Saturday afternoon.
Capitol police said contact was made with the aircraft shortly after 2 p.m. and the plane left the area. There was no immediate danger and the evacuations of the buildings were standard procedure during such an incident.
Shennell Antrobus, public information officer for the U.S. Capitol police, said the small plane initially did not communicate with air traffic controllers, neccesitating the measures. People on Twitter reported hearing and seeing fighter jets fly over the city at around the same time as the evacuations.
Antrobus said things are expected to return to normal soon.
The Twitter account of the U.S. Senate Sergeant of Arms Office reported police activity cleared and all roads around the Capitol were now open as of 2:32 p.m.
Police activity cleared and all roads around the Capitol are now open. Thanks for your patience. #dctraffic — SenateSergeantAtArms (@SenateSAA) June 7, 2014
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The Associated Press reported Secret Service agents will interview the pilot and the incident didn't affect security at the White House. President Barack Obama was playing golf at a military base in Maryland at the time.
