Oregon Guard Scrambles F-15 Jet Fighters to Escort Hawaiian Flight

The F-15 fighter jets become a federal asset once alerted, placing them under presidential authority.

F-15 fighter jet from the Oregon National Guard Photo Courtesy: Oregon Guard Public Affairs

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Two Oregon Air National Guard F-15 fighters, under the direction of North American Aerospace Defense Command, intercepted Hawaiian Air Flight 39 in the vicinity of Portland, Ore., Today.

The F-15s, stationed at Portland Air National Guard Base, escorted the aircraft until it landed at Portland International Airport without incident at approximately 1:15 p.m. PST, where the plane was met by law enforcement and the Transportation Security Agency.

Hawaiian Air 39 departed Portland Airport enroute to Hawaii. Shortly after take-off, a passenger caused a disturbance on the plane and the pilot decided to return the aircraft to Portland.

The Oregon National Guard's 142nd Fighter Wing, assigned the Air Sovereignty Alert Mission, guards the Pacific Northwest skies from northern California to the Canadian border, on 24-hour alert as part of the North American Air Defense system.

The F-15 fighter jets become a federal asset once alerted, placing them under presidential authority.

The Oregon Air National Guard has been an integral part of the nation's air defense since 1941, and is comprised of approximately 2,200 citizen airmen with bases in both Portland and Klamath Falls.

Source: FBI