Posted on 04/15/2015 12:01:42 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Capitol building, Visitor's Center placed on lockdown
U.S. Capitol Police have detained a man who flew over and landed a gyrocopter on Capitol grounds, causing the building and visitor center to be locked down Wednesday afternoon. The pilot landed around 1:30 p.m. was taken into custody after he landed on the West Front grounds. Police have described the aircraft as a gyrocopter, which is similar to a helicopter in appearance, but uses a different type of propulsion and lift.
The USCP Hazardous Devices Section (bomb squad) is continuing to investigate the gyrocopter. The following temporary street closures are in effect, affecting vehicular & pedestrian traffic:
First Street between Independence Avenue SW & Constitution Avenue NW
Maryland Avenue between 1st & 3rd streets SW
Pennsylvania Avenue between 1st & 3rd streets NW
House Homeland Security panel Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said the pilot landed on his own, but that had he made it much closer to the Capitol authorities were prepared to shoot him down.
The small craft presented a strange sight sitting on the green lawn of the Capitol, its rotors slowly spinning.
Emergency vehicles were dispatched to the area and a robot bomb detector was sent over to the craft.
An NBC station in Tampa, Florida, received an email from a man who said he was going to fly to the Capitol to deliver letters to every member of Congress. The man in the email said his name was Douglas Hughes, 61, and that he is employed as a mailman.
Capitol Police have not confirmed Hughes is the man they detained on the grounds.
In his email to the television station, Hughes said he intended to deliver 535 letters to the members of Congress, protesting alleged corruption in the institution and his possible solutions. Hughes acknowledged the dangers of flying in Washington and so close to federal buildings.
“I'm going to land my gyro on the front lawn of the Capitol Building at the top end of the National Mall,” the email stated. "The issue is important enough to defy the no-fly zone and risk life and limb, and my freedom in pursuit of an honest government that represents the people."
A website mentioned in the email appeared to have a video area where a livestream of the flight was being broadcast. The page has a black spot where the video may have been. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
I first read that as “gynocopter.”
Would that be a helicopter of the opposite sex?
He was doing this in an official capacity as a postal carrier. Even the copter has USPS markings on the tail!
LOCK IT DOWN. LOCK IT DOWN AND NEVER OPEN IT UP AGAIN.
Well, that’s one way to lose your pilot’s license.
The guy’s certainly got balls...
Why is it that anytime something seems amiss, the response is always: “go into lockdown”? Everything is treated as if it’s a prison; everybody is treated as it they’re a prisoner.
Or are we all being groomed for the coming Martial Law?
Little Nellie with 007 would have done something probably a lot more productive.
His issue was money in politics.
He wants donations restricted so only liberal elites with the favor of Hollywood, newspapers and the liberal culture get their word out. People like us - conservatives - people who have to pay to get our word out would marginalized. The press will be kind to him...
He'll be portrayed as a victim - and his message will get coverage.
A Helidoctor
Alright! The Post Office is attacking Uncle Sam. Whoa, bitch fight!
This will set back drone deliveries 10 years! /s
LOL! He could have been closer only if he'd landed in Boehner's office. The Police and military simply blew this.
which begs the question: “How can the Secret Service prevent a drone or remote aircraft of any sort from flying into the WH with explosives?? Air sufficient air defenses in place??”
They better start getting sued to a little mis- behavior to counter THEIR mis- behavior.
Looks like it’s powered by a Rotax 503 with a Warp drive prop.
Not reposting my graphic here. I’ll just link it. :-)
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/3279491/posts?page=18#18
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