Washington trains for terror flights
From Barbara Starr
CNN Pentagon Correspondent
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two C-172 Cessna Skyhawk aircraft will conduct low-level flights over Washington Thursday evening, simulating a terrorist attack against the metropolitan area as part of a series of air defense exercises being conducted by the U.S. military.
The exercise, called "Falcon Virgo," will involve small airplanes conducting low-level flights over the capitol area.
Two Air Force F-16s will be conducting routine combat air patrols at the time and could be ordered to chase the small planes.
There will be a computerized simulation with other air defense units testing the ability to quickly identify hostile targets and force them to land, in coordination with commercial air space authorities.
Exercises involving F-16s operating over the D.C. metro area last month prompted numerous phone calls to media outlets from residents frightened by the noise of the low-flying jets. Thursday night's exercise, postponed from Wednesday, is expected to run from 6 p.m. to midnight ET.
