White House, Capitol Lockdown Lifted

The White House is seen in Washington on Oct. 1, 2019. J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

Update at 9:20 a.m. The lockdown at the White House and U.S. Capitol building was lifted, according to several reports. Officials told reporters that an aircraft triggered the move.

Earlier story:

The White House was placed on lockdown just before 9 a.m. on Nov. 26 for unknown reasons.

One report says that an “emergency” caused the shelter-in-place.

NBC News later reported that an “airspace violation” was reported, and fighter jets were scrambled around Washington, D.C.

The news of the lockdown was reported by members of the White House press pool, many of whom said that they had been locked in the White House Briefing Room.

“White House totally on lockdown. All press being sheltered in place inside briefing room. Similar reported response at the a U.S. Capitol + congressional office buildings,” reporter J.D. Durkin reported.

Another reporter wrote: “Much of the Capitol complex and surrounding streets are closed this morning due to an ‘air con’ emergency. I’m told by @CapitolPolice that communication has been lost with an aircraft and that’s forced evacuations of some areas of Capitol as a precaution.”

Another reporter wrote that there was an “unauthorized aircraft in the vicinity.” He didn’t elaborate.

Reporter David Martosko wrote on Twitter that an “agent” told him an “emergency” prompted the lockdown.  A construction worker in the vicinity told him that workers who were at the White House north fence were told to “get out.”

According to the president’s schedule, Trump was slated to have an In-House Pool Call Time at 9 a.m. before he was to sign an executive order establishing a task force on missing Native Americans. At 12:45 p.m., he is then scheduled to have lunch with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Other details are not clear.