This archive report was first published on 27 November 2019.
On Tuesday, a slow-moving object was detected on the White House radar, prompting a lockdown and restricted access to the area.
The object was initially thought to be a drone, which led to a heightened security alert and the deployment of US Coast Guard helicopters to intercept it.
However, after further investigation, security officials determined that the object was likely a flock of birds, which was moving slowly and appeared to be heading northwest.
According to CNN, the airspace around Washington is heavily restricted due to rules established after the September 2001 attacks on New York City.
These rules limit aircraft operations in the area to those with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration authorization.
Speaking to CNN, Capitol Police sources suggested that the object may have been a flock of birds, given its slow movement and appearance.
As it turned out, the object dissipated, and officers on military jets and helicopters reported seeing nothing in the sky.
Moreover, an air traffic control audio review confirmed that the responding military aircraft operated by a pilot with the call sign 'Blackjack' reported seeing a flock of birds heading northwest.
