WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Jeh (JAY) Johnson says a gyrocopter that landed on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol “literally flew in under the radar.”
Johnson says it’s too soon to say whether Wednesday’s incident should prompt changes in security procedures.
The pilot is Florida postal worker Doug Hughes. Johnson confirms Hughes was interviewed by the Secret Service almost two years ago. Johnson says the Secret Service passed along the information to “all of the appropriate law enforcement agencies.”
Johnson says his first reaction on hearing of the incident was to ask, “What’s a gyrocopter?”
The tiny, open-air aircraft landed without injuries to anyone, but the incident raises questions about how someone could be allowed to fly right up to the Capitol.
Johnson spoke Thursday on Capitol Hill.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Gyrocopters were all the rage in “Popular Mechanics” 50 years ago, even appearing in a least one James Bond film.
The concept is much older, predating WW II. The Germans experimented with towing one after a (surfaced) submarine as an observation platform during WWII, it seemed like a good idea at the time, but the requirement for fast diving reduced the attraction. Gyrocopters can’t take off vertically, they will need a bit of runway, but they can land in very short spaces. It is a very cost-efficient way to make an airborne vehicle.
How is it possible that a high government official has seen neither “You Only Live Twice” nor “Mad Max: The Road Warrior?” I mean, I’m not saying it should be like a qualification, or anything, but I’m just amazed that people my age exist who haven’t seen either of them.
*No idea why this posted as a reply to ClausCPH. Sorry about that.
I just wanna say for the record, that gyrocopter was waaaaayyyy cool and I want one.
Like R. Maddow said last night, the news will continue to report on this man invading capital airspace with hair-on-fire hysteria, but refuse to address the elephant in the room for which the man was protesting: Campaign Finance Reform. She showed how over 90% of Americans polled believe money in politics is a problem that’s destroying Democracy, and over 90% don’t believe anything or anyone will do anything to change it. You cannot get 90% of Americans to agree on anything anymore…except THAT.
My question is why the JLENS blimp over Aberdeen Proving Ground didn’t pick this up? JLENS is designed to pick up low altitude flying cruise missiles which are generally about the same size as this gyrocopter…FAIL
EXACTLY! This is such a silly article. Who, but the nerds, knows what a gyrocopter is? Because they look like the heros on a kids movie made a helicopter out of a lawnmower engine, a ceiling fan and a stationary bike. The bigger problem is that (like in the kids movie) it worked. It flew from FL to the Capitol building. So obviously DHS has no idea how to do its job so lets eliminate that department- along with the CIA because they haven’t gotten one right in 60 years and we have CNN- and use that money to finance federal elections.