NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — An armed F-16 intercepted a small plane flying over New York City Tuesday afternoon hours after President Biden delivered his address to the United Nations General Assembly, officials said.
The private, single-engine Cessna 182 plane was flying in restricted airspace and was escorted out of the area without incident, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
"#NORAD F-16 fighter aircraft intercepted a small, single engine general aviation aircraft that violated the Temporary Flight Restriction area near #NYC," the agency tweeted. "The aircraft was escorted out of the TFR w/o incident at approx. 2:00 p.m. EDT. #OperationNobleEagle"
The inderception occurred after Biden left the UN, startling residents in upper Manhattan, near the George Washington Bridge.
"Very low, very loud turns from what looked like an #f16 #nyc to fast for my camera...got some sound!," one Twitter user posted.
Very low, very loud turns from what looked like an #f16 #nyc to fast for my camera...got some sound! pic.twitter.com/9nNbPHWtIU
— Foxeinsocks (@FoxeinSocks) September 21, 2021
The Federal Aviation Authority said it was investigating the incident.
Another person in the area, Allie Weintraub, described the operation as "defeaning."
"Hello! Whoa! I am just N of GWB and it sounded deafening but I didn't even get up to look," she tweeted. (Grew up by an airfield and I am used to the noise.) Friends at least as far south as 150th heard it as well."
Hello! Whoa! I am just N of GWB and it sounded deafening but I didn't even get up to look. (Grew up by an airfield and I am used to the noise.) Friends at least as far south as 150th heard it as well.
— Allie Weintraub (@allie_nicole93) September 21, 2021
