Saturday 10/16/24 @ 14:53Z / 10:53ET - USCG MH-65 Dolphin c/s Blackjack-1 scrambles from DCA, to the South of Mount Vernon around the FRZ boundary 13NM from DCA at 2-3k ft.
Based on traffic in the area and repeated calls from Potomac Approach / KIAD Area - SFRA West (127.325), this appears to be related to an unresponsive Piper PA30 c/s N7856Y in the SFRA, which departed Martinsburg WV (MRB) at 1426Z traveling S/SE - eventually landing 1519Z at Hummel Field VA (W75). After takeoff at MRB the tower noted they were not receiving ADSB/transponder data tho said this was resolved. I could not find communications on the KMRB Potomac App/Dep LUCKE frequency.
The first of multiple calls to N7856Y on SFRA West starts at 1447Z. SFRA South also calls N7856Y at 1447Z.
According to FlightAware data, N7856Y turns towards SE to heading 128° around 1446Z and enters the SFRA around this time, then E to 104° at 1449Z presumably to avoid R-6608/Quantico area, then S to 164° at 1458Z.
Blackjack descended and returned North to DCA around 1502Z.
N7856Y later returned to MRB via Warrenton VA landing at 1717Z (FlightAware data missing from W75 to Warrenton).
That's all I was able to find out - I am sure there are other sources and communications out there. Not sure if there was further communication on SFRA South (125.125) there was a call to N7856Y at 1447Z and unfortunately the 1430Z archive stops at 19min for some reason and I could not find anything on 1500Z archive.
Note:
- There was a reference in some comms with Blackjack about "fighters orbiting" however this was occurring at the same time as a French Airforce flyover of DC, so that may be a reference to those fighters that were holding SE of Andrews around this time. That said only 1 jet turned up for the flyover.
- Bizarrely, at 1445Z someone does a cat meow on SFRA West
Attached is mainly SFRA West overlaid with comms from DCA Tower / Final Approach (124.7) with Blackjack1, and a comment on the KRANT frequency to another plane about an active scramble. Unfortunately Blackjack side of the comms are not very clear. Edited for time; elapsed timeline as follows (Zulu):
14:26 N7856Y cleared for takeoff from MRB
14:29 MRB Tower reports issues receiving ADBS/transponder (reported as resolved)
14:46 N7856Y turns towards SE to heading 128° (enters SFRA West of Manassas?)
14:47 First of many calls from Potomac SFRA West (127.325) to N7856Y. SFRA South calls N7856Y.
14:49 N7856Y turns E to heading 104° (to avoid R-6608/Quantico?)
14:53 Blackjack1 departs DCA
14:54 "change heading immediately" can be heard on SFRA West
14:57 Blackjack1 up on Potomac Approach (DCA Final) freq (124.7)
14:58 N7856Y turns S to heading 164°
14:59 Final call from SFRA West to N7856Y
15:02 Blackjack1 descends and switches from Approach back to Tower
Flightaware
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N7856Y/history/20241019/1435Z/tracklog
