US Capitol is evacuated as police track an aircraft posing a probable threat

US Capitol Police say there is ‘no threat’ to the complex after ordering full evacuation in apparent mix-up over military flight at Nationals baseball game

  • US Capitol Complex was evacuated in an embarrassing mix-up on Wednesday
  • Capitol Police identified a US military demonstration flight as a ‘probable threat’
  • But the plane was dropping Army Golden Knight skydivers at Nationals game
  • Officials say the plane did not report taking off and lacked clearances 

The U.S. Capitol Police have said that there is no threat to the Capitol complex in Washington DC, just minutes after issuing a statement saying they were tracking an aircraft that posed a ‘probable threat’.

The plane turned out to be a military aircraft with an Army Golden Knights team parachuting out of it for a demonstration at a nearby Washington Nationals game, officials said.

‘The Capitol was evacuated out of an abundance of caution this evening. There is no threat at the Capitol. More details to come,’ USCP said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Buildings at the Capitol complex are being prepared for re-entry, the protective service said. 

The U.S. Army Parachute Team the Golden Knights jump out of their aircraft before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park

The U.S. Capitol Police have said that there is no threat to the Capitol complex in Washington, minutes after issuing a statement saying they were tracking a threatening aircraft

The U.S. Capitol Police have said that there is no threat to the Capitol complex in Washington, minutes after issuing a statement saying they were tracking a threatening aircraft

Capitol Police initially issued the evacuation order at 6.32pm on Wednesday evening in an alert saying that law enforcement was ‘tracking an aircraft that poses a probable threat to the Capitol Complex.’ 

‘Evacuate Now: Aircraft Intrusion’ read the alert ordering the evacuation of the the US Capitol, Capitol Visitor Center, Library of Congress, House and Senate office buildings, and the US Botanical Garden.   

However, the plane was carrying members of the U.S. Army´s Golden Knights, who then parachuted into the Washington Nationals’ baseball stadium for a pregame demonstration ahead on a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

Nationals Park is a little more than a mile away from the U.S. Capitol. 

The aircraft, a single-engine plane, was reported to be circling around Washington after taking off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, two people familiar with the matter told the AP. 

The people said the aircraft did not report taking off and did not have appropriate clearance. 

Developing story, more to follow. 



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