An intruder has breached Joint Base Andrews, home to Air Force One, for the second time in two years, resulting in gunfire in the base.
The intruder was apprehended in the base’s housing area.
The incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 6 and was acknowledged by the Joint Base Andrews Twitter account at 8:20 p.m. that day.
“A resident discharged a firearm, security forces arrived on scene to apprehend the intruder, & law enforcement is investigating the incident,” the base wrote.
No injuries or property damage were reported.
In addition to Air Force One, Joint Base Andrews houses Marine One and the “doomsday” 747 aircraft intended as the nation’s airborne nuclear command and control centers.
The base was previously breached in February 2021 when a man got through the military checkpoint entrance to the installation and proceeded through other fenced areas to enter the flight line and board a C-40, which the military used to transport government officials.
In the wake of that incident, an inspector general’s investigation identified three primary security failings, starting with “human error” by a gate guard.
The guard allowed the man to drive onto the base despite having no authorizing credentials. The man was then able to slip through a security fence, then board and exit the airplane without challenge, even though he was not wearing a badge authorizing access to the restricted area.
Joint Base Andrews is located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, about five miles outside Washington. Approximately 3,400 people live on the base.
