Washington – Congressman: Gyrocopter Pilot ‘Lucky To Be Alive,’ ‘Should Have Been Blown Out Of The Air’

Washington – The chairman of the House oversight committee says a Florida postal carrier steered his small gyrocopter through protected Washington airspace for 30 miles to the U.S. Capitol without being stopped.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah told reporters that Doug Hughes is “lucky to be alive” and “should have been blown out of the air.” Chaffetz spoke after a closed-door briefing from the Secret Service and Capitol Police for top members of Congress.

Chaffetz said security tracked Hughes as he flew from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to the lawn of the U.S. Capitol last week. He said a decision was made not to shoot Hughes down.

The incident exposed a gap in the government’s efforts to ensure the security of the White House, Capitol and other critical buildings in Washington.