White House locked down briefly after unmanned aircraft spotted in ‘No Drone Zone’

AP

WASHINGTON — The White House has once again been locked down after a drone was spotted in the area.

That’s according to a federal official, who wasn’t authorized to comment by name and requested anonymity. The official says security was bumped up Friday afternoon but has returned to normal at the White House.

This is the second time in as many months that a drone incident has prompted a lockdown. In May, the Secret Service apprehended a man flying a small drone in a park outside the White House. And in January, a quadcopter drone piloted by an off-duty government worker landed on the White House lawn. President Barack Obama wasn’t at home.

Under security rules adopted after 9/11, Washington and nearby communities are part of a “No Drone Zone.”