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F-16s intercept Piper Comanche near Bush ranch

April 13, 2004 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Once again U.S. F-16 fighter jets intercepted a small plane flying near President Bush's ranch in Texas. The two Vipers launched flares and forced the Piper Comanche 400 down at San Marcos Municipal Airport around 2:45 p.m. Friday.
"There was a violation. The fighters did respond," said Ann Roman, a Secret Service spokeswoman in Washington.

The F-16s did not touch down but did pass over the city of San Marcos and adjacent areas, rattling nearby windows with a series of sonic booms.

Amateur pilots have inadvertently violated the air space on a number of occasions in the past.