- SEABROOK - A helicopter pilot
flying near Seabrook Station was diverted to Manchester Airport on Wednesday
after being confronted by two Massachusetts Air National Guard F-15 jets
sent from Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod.
-
- According to officials, the pilot will not face charges
since nothing illegal took place.
-
- "There is no prohibition about helicopters flying
over a nuclear power plant," said Jim Peters, spokesman for the Federal
Aviation Administration New England Region. "(Pilots) have an advisory
not to circle over the plant, but there is no prohibition of flying directly
over it."
-
- At around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Seabrook Station security
officials noticed a low-flying aircraft in close proximity to the nuclear
power plant.
-
- According to Alan Griffith, spokesman for FPL Seabrook
Station, initial attempts to contact the pilot were unsuccessful.
-
- FAA officials were notified; they then contacted the
North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). According to a statement
released by Michael Kucharek, chief of media relations for NORAD and the
U.S. Northern Command, two F-15 fighter jets were ordered to fly to the
airspace over the Seabrook nuclear power plant.
-
- "NORAD responded initially to investigate and then
flew for one hour over the area to ensure there was no airborne threat,"
Kucharek said in an e-mail message. "No private or commercial aircraft
were escorted by the NORAD fighters."
-
- Griffith said that once communication was established
with the helicopter pilot, he was diverted to Manchester Airport, where
he was questioned by authorities upon landing.
-
- Peters, of the FAA, said law enforcement officials interviewed
the pilot and determined that he didn't pose a threat to the nuclear power
plant's security; he added that appropriate measures were taken to identify
the helicopter.
-
- The FAA does not plan to release the pilot's name or
the helicopter's end number.
-
- "(The pilot) was doing nothing wrong," Peters
said.
-
- According to Griffith, the security concern was raised
because "all licensed pilots know there are key industrial facilities
that (pilots) are not supposed to fly near or over."
-
- "Nuclear power plants are considered key industrial
facilities," Griffith explained.
-
- Seabrook police also responded to the incident, according
to Seabrook Police Chief David Currier.
-
- Currier said the department was notified by federal authorities.
-
- "Our role is to provide additional security to the
power plant and have on-duty personnel respond," the police chief
said.
-
- Neither Currier nor Griffith could say how close the
helicopter was to the facility, citing policies that prevent them from
releasing details about the plant's security.
-
- "The situation was dealt with really quickly, and
the outcome was a good one," said Griffith. "It was just a matter
of miscommunication with the pilot. (The incident) speaks to the overall
security at a nuclear power plant. It is better to be safe than sorry."
-
- Initial reports that the helicopter was taking pictures
for Venture Corp., a business located next to Seabrook Station, could not
be confirmed.
-
- http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/09242004/news/39212.htm
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