The US Capitol was briefly evacuated yesterday after authorities sounded a threat alarm over a parachute stunt, prompting Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to blast aviation officials for an "inexcusable" failure.
Police tasked with protecting the complex at the heart of US government in Washington issued an initial statement shortly after 6.30pm saying they had ordered an evacuation as they were "tracking an aircraft that poses a probable threat."
They did not give further details, but it turned out the mini-crisis was triggered by a pre-planned flyover at nearby Nationals Stadium.
The news became a top headline within minutes in the United States, where the memories of 11 September, 2001 attacks and the 6 January, 2021 storming of the Capitol by protesters are still poignant.
US Capitol Police swiftly issued a second statement to say the order had been given "out of an abundance of caution," that there was now "no threat" to the complex and that buildings had reopened for use.
Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate, the chambers of Congress that are located in the Capitol, were in session at the time of the scare.
However, the incident enraged Ms Pelosi, who issued a statement soon after the evacuation order was lifted blasting the Federal Aviation Administration over the apparent misunderstanding.
The FAA's "apparent failure" to notify Capitol police of the planned flyover was "outrageous and inexcusable," Ms Pelosi said.
"The unnecessary panic caused by this apparent negligence was particularly harmful" for those still facing trauma from the 6 January attack on the Capitol, she said, adding that Congress would review "what precisely went wrong today and who at the Federal Aviation Administration will be held accountable for this outrageous and frightening mistake."
There was no immediate explanation for the order, but Ms Pelosi was clear it came after a parachute display that was part of a baseball pregame show for "Military Appreciation Night" at Nationals Stadium.
