A private plane crashed on 4th June, 2023 (Sunday) at Virginia. It crashed after it flew hundreds of miles off its actual flight path. As the plane had diverted from its real flight path, F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept it at supersonic speed. After this, it crashed in a forest area in Virginia.
It is believed that the plane travelled in the restricted airspace over Washington, the capital of the United States of America.
Sonic boom produced!
The fighter jets flew at such speed that greater than the speed of sound in air. When this happens, a sonic boom is produced. The residents of Washington and some areas of Virginia and Maryland were somewhat startled by this sonic boom. These fighter jets surrounded the plane that was not responsive. The jets also fired the flares, hoping to draw the attention of the pilot of the ill-fated plane. But the plane remained unresponsive.
Why the plane came so much off its path?
It is currently unclear on why the plane veered off its actual course, but certain assumptions are being made. According to plane owner, it is possible that there was a loss of cabin pressure which resulted in the pilot and passengers getting unconscious. This is only an assumption and as of now, we don’t really know the real cause.
Federal Aviation Administration issues statement
The Federal Aviation Administration which regulates all aspects of United States civil aviation, said in a statement that the plane crashed into the mountainous terrain near the rural Montebello in southwest Virginia around 3:30 pm. No survivors were found. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the crash.
What is National Transportation Safety Board?
Most countries has an investigative body responsible for carrying out investigation if a plane crash happens. In the United States of America, such a body is called National Transportation Safety Board and it is responsible for conducting an investigation if and when a plane crash happens in the United States of America. It is an independent US Government investigative agency that conducts civil transportation accident investigation. It was formed on 1st April, 1967 and has jurisdiction all over the United States.
The actual route/path of the plane?
The plane was flying from Tennessee to New York. It took off from Elizabethton Municipal Airport, located in Elizabethton, Tennessee. It was bound for Long Island, MacArthur Airport, located in New York.
It had reached Long Island before it made the U-turn and flew hundreds of miles and then crashed around 135 miles southeast of Washington.
The jet suffered a rapid spiralling descent, as is known from flight tracking sites. It dropped at a rate of more than 30,000 feet per minute, before it slammed into the George Washington National Forest. At around 4:00 pm, Virginia State Police officers were notified/informed about the plane crash. It took around 4 hours for rescuers to reach the plane crash site.