White House back to normal

The White House was evacuated today when a plane flew within five miles of restricted airspace around Washington, the Secret Service said.

“It’s heading south-east away from the White House and the Federal Aviation Authority is attempting to communicate with it,” said spokeswoman Jean Mitchell.

Staff later returned to the White House.

An aide to President George Bush said staff were told to go to a nearby street but were allowed to go back to their desks a short time later.

“The threat level was never raised,” Mitchell said.

On November 10, Air Force fighter jets scrambled to intercept a private plane that flew too close to the White House. That plane was later determined not to be a threat.

The president was also away at that time.