Jets Sent to Bridge After Planes Spotted Circling

Two Air Force jets were scrambled to the Golden Gate Bridge during the evening commute hours Thursday after bridge officials noticed two small airplanes circling the famous span.

The small propeller planes left the area after about 15 minutes, said Golden Gate Bridge District Lt. Mike Locati.

He said small planes are not supposed to be in the area, a rule instituted after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Bridge officials followed protocol and called the Federal Aviation Administration, which had the jets sent to the area, Locati said.

He called the appearance of the two small planes so close to the bridge “out of the ordinary.”