1/7/2010Â -Â SALEM, Ore. (AFNS)Â –Â Two Oregon Air National Guard F-15 Eagles, under the direction of North American Aerospace Defense Command, intercepted Hawaiian Air Flight 39 Jan. 6, in the vicinity of Portland, Ore.
The F-15s, stationed at Portland Air National Guard Base, escorted the aircraft until it landed at Portland International Airport without incident at about 1:15 p.m. PST, where the plane was met by law enforcement and Transportation Security Agency officials.
Hawaiian Air 39 departed Portland Airport enroute to Hawaii, but shortly after takeoff a passenger caused a disturbance on the plane and the pilot decided to return the aircraft to Portland.
The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Fighter Wing Airmen are assigned the air sovereignty alert mission and guard the Pacific Northwest sky from northern California to the Canadian border on 24-hour alert as part of the North American Air Defense system.
The F-15s become a federal asset once alerted, placing them under presidential authority.
Source and picture: USAF
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