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Two F-15s following an unresponsive turboprop plane over the Atlantic Ocean have temporarily broken off their pursuit until the plane flies over Cuba and re-enters international airspace, a NORAD spokeswoman said today.
The F-15s will fly around Cuba’s eastern end and wait in international airspace on the southern side of the island to pick up the plane’s trail should it cross the island, Capt. Jennifer Stadnyk said.
The single-engine plane was flying from Rochester, New York, to Naples, Florida, officials said. “The plane’s occupants did not respond to attempts to communicate," the North American Aerospace Defense Command ( NORAD) said this morning.
U.S. and Cuban aviation authorities are now communicating in an effort to assure a smooth transition, Stadnyk said. Cuba is tracking the plane on radar.
There are other passengers aboard, and the fog on the aircraft’s windows suggests all aboard are unconscious, NORAD said. It's unclear how much fuel is on board.
The aircraft is flying at an altitude of 25,000 feet and has not been responding to radio calls since 10 am ET, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The flight departed from Greater Rochester Intl. Airport in New York and was headed to Naples Municipal Airport in Florida.
NORAD Fighter Jets Following Unresponsive Plane Over Atlantic - ABC News