Six F-16 military jets caused a sonic boom at the Virginia plane crash site, according to the White House.

The White House Briefs on Tragic Private Jet Crash in Virginia

The crash of a private jet in rural Virginia has left the nation in shock. The White House held a press briefing on Monday to discuss the incident, which was connected to a sonic boom heard across the Washington, D.C., area.

F-16s Intercept Unresponsive Cessna Citation

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby revealed in the briefing that six F-16s from three different air bases were rushed to intercept an unresponsive Cessna Citation airplane that flew over Washington, D.C., on Sunday afternoon. The plane crashed near Montebello, Virginia, killing all on board, including the daughter and granddaughter of the Florida-based company’s owners, John and Barbara Rumpel.

Responsibilities to Send a Message to the Aircraft

Under NORAD authorization, Kirby explained that if a pilot is non-responsive to requests to change course and speed and altitude to enter restricted airspace, there are responsibilities to send a message to the aircraft. The two aircraft from the base in Maryland were the first to reach the Cessna aircraft, and they had to turn on the speed to get to it, causing the sonic boom heard by residents in the area.

President Biden Briefed on the Incident

Kirby noted that President Joe Biden was briefed and informed of the incident. The cause of the crash remains under investigation as investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board searched the scene on Monday.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family members of the loved ones who died in that crash. Let us keep them in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.