Unauthorized aircraft penetrates White House airspace

Scenes of people being evacuated from the White House were shown on US TV news stations, when a small plane entered the unauthorized airspace on Wednesday. The plane got within 3 miles of the White House before it was intercepted and turned away by US military aircraft. President George W. Bush wasn't in the building at the time, however Vice-President Dick Cheney was in the west-wing when the alert happened. The vice-president was escorted to a safe place said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. The pilot of the small high-wing Cessna plane was detained after landing the plane at a local air base, and is being interviewed by members of the secret service. The terrorist alert was raised from 'high' to 'severe' following the incident. Â