On April 29, 2015 the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing titled, “Flying Under the Radar: Securing Washington, D.C. Airspace [link includes Witness and Testimony Documents]This hearing examined how a small gyrocopter entered restricted airspace and landed on the West Lawn of the Capitol.

HEARING BACKGROUND:

• “On April 15, 2015, an individual was able to take off from Gettysburg, PA, and pilot a small gyrocopter through highly restricted airspace around the National Capital Region.  His course took him through northwest D.C., down the National Mall, where he ultimately landed on the West Lawn of the Capitol.  This event is reminiscent of the January 26, 2015, incident where a “quad copter” device crashed on the southeast side of the White House complex, as well as a similar device with radioactive material landing on the roof of the Japanese Prime Minister’s residence on April 22, 2015.  These events raise questions about similar manned and unmanned aircraft entering D.C.’s highly restricted airspace and threatening high value targets and individuals.
• Given the increased production and use of small manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, the Committee is concerned about this security threat, as well as the coordinated response and mitigation efforts by federal agencies.”