On Tuesday morning, F-16 fighter jets were deployed to intercept a civilian aircraft over Washington DC, resulting in a sonic boom that startled local residents and office workers. The incident occurred at approximately 11:15 AM when the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled the jets to ensure the aircraft did not enter restricted airspace. This airspace, known as the Special Flight Rules Area, is tightly controlled, requiring pilots to maintain constant communication with air traffic control to avoid unauthorized incursions within a 30-nautical-mile radius of the capital. NORAD confirmed that the civilian plane was successfully escorted out of the airspace without any further complications. This incident echoes a similar event from June 2023, when six F-16s were also scrambled after a civilian Cessna became unresponsive and crashed in Virginia, prompting another sonic boom across the region. Such rapid responses are standard practice for safeguarding the heavily monitored airspace around Washington DC, with jets often launched from Joint Base Andrews.