Washington - A business plane, which was off course and unresponsive, flew over Washington D.C. on Sunday afternoon, prompting the military to scramble a fighter jet before the plane ultimately crashed in Virginia. The fighter jet's presence resulted in a loud sonic boom that resonated throughout the capital region.

Several hours later, authorities confirmed that rescue teams had reached the crash site situated in a rural area of the Shenandoah Valley. Unfortunately, no survivors were discovered.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Cessna Citation departed from Elizabethtown, Tennessee, on Sunday with a destination of Long Island's MacArthur Airport. Unexpectedly, the plane reversed its course over Long Island, New York, and flew directly over Washington D.C. before crashing over mountainous terrain near Montebello, Virginia, at approximately 3:30 p.m.

The reasons behind the plane's lack of response, the cause of the crash, and the number of individuals on board remained unclear. Despite flying above highly restricted airspace, the aircraft passed directly over the nation's capital.

According to an unnamed U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity, The Associated Press confirmed that a military jet was dispatched in response to the unresponsive small plane, which ultimately crashed. The official lacked authorization to disclose specific details regarding the military operation.

Data from flight tracking sites revealed that the military jet experienced a rapid and spiraling descent, descending at a rate exceeding 30,000 feet per minute before crashing in the St. Mary's Wilderness.

Following the incident, the North American Aerospace Defense Command issued a statement explaining that the F-16 was permitted to travel at supersonic speeds. Consequently, a sonic boom occurred, audible in Washington, Virginia, and parts of Maryland.

According to the statement, "In an effort to gain the pilot's attention, the NORAD aircraft deployed flares during the incident, which might have been observable to the public. It is crucial to note that flares are used with utmost consideration for the safety of both the intercepted aircraft and individuals on the ground. Flares burn out rapidly and completely, posing no danger to individuals on the ground when released."

Virginia State Police received notification of a potential crash shortly before 4 p.m., and approximately four hours later, rescue teams arrived at the crash site on foot. Regrettably, no survivors were discovered, as confirmed by the police.

The plane involved in the crash belonged to Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc, a Florida-based company. John Rumpel, the company's owner, informed The New York Times that his daughter, 2-year-old granddaughter, their nanny, and the pilot were aboard the aircraft. They were returning to their residence in East Hampton, Long Island, after visiting Rumpel's house in North Carolina.

Rumpel, who is also a pilot, expressed limited knowledge of the situation from authorities but expressed hope that his family did not suffer. He suggested the possibility of the plane experiencing a loss of pressurization.

"I don't believe they have located the wreckage yet," Rumpel conveyed to the newspaper. "The descent was at a rate of 20,000 feet per minute, and it is highly unlikely that anyone could survive a crash at such a speed."

Barbara Rumpel, identified as the president of Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc, declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press on Sunday.

This incident evoked memories of the 1999 crash involving a Learjet carrying professional golfer Payne Stewart, which lost cabin pressure and flew aimlessly across the country. The aircraft ultimately crashed in a South Dakota pasture, resulting in the loss of six lives.

During the time the fighter jet was dispatched, President Joe Biden was playing golf at Joint Base Andrews. Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service, stated that the incident did not affect the president's activities on Sunday. Biden spent the afternoon playing golf with his brother at the Maryland military base.

A White House official affirmed that the president had been briefed on the crash and noted that the sound of the scrambling aircraft was faint at Joint Base Andrews.