Air Force F-16s intercept ultralight plane in southern Arizona near Mexican border
By APSunday, May 16, 2010
F-16s respond to flight near Mexican border in AZ
PHOENIX — The North American Aerospace Defense Command says two F-16 fighter planes intercepted an ultralight aircraft near the U.S.-Mexico border in southwestern Arizona.
The plane crossed from Mexico into Arizona just after 6 a.m. Sunday. NORAD dispatched two F-16s from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson and they shadowed the ultralight for about 30 minutes until it flew back into Mexico.
Lt. Cmdr. Gary Ross says he was unaware of any radio contact with the small plane.
Ultralight aircraft are sometimes used to carry drugs and other contraband across the border.
NORAD responds about 200 times a year to aircraft flying without radio contact or in restricted airspace, but Ross says it’s not typical for the command center to intercept an ultralight.
Ross could not provide further details about why F-16s were sent to intercept the aircraft Sunday.
