Thread: F-16s respond to flight near Mexican border in AZ

F-16s respond to flight near Mexican border in AZ

PHOENIX (AP) -- The North American Aerospace Defense Command says two F-16 fighter planes intercepted an ultralight aircraft near the U.S.-Mexico border in southwestern Arizona.

The plane crossed from Mexico into Arizona just after 6 a.m. Sunday. NORAD dispatched two F-16s from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson and they shadowed the ultralight for about 30 minutes until it flew back into Mexico.

Lt. Cmdr. Gary Ross says he was unaware of any radio contact with the small plane.

Ultralight aircraft are sometimes used to carry drugs and other contraband across the border.

NORAD responds about 200 times a year to aircraft flying without radio contact or in restricted airspace, but Ross says it's not typical for the command center to intercept an ultralight.

Ross could not provide further details about why F-16s were sent to intercept the aircraft Sunday.

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The plane crossed from Mexico into Arizona just after 6 a.m. Sunday.

Why do we train and pay our military pilots if they do not shoot down obvious incursions into our airspace?

I WANT A REFUND ON HIS SALARY!!!!

They scramble fighter jets for an incursion by a civilian aircraft, but not the Mexican military?

Why?