Employees leave the Cannon House office building on Capitol Hill, in response to a feared threat from a small Cessna aircraft May 11. (Reuters)

U.S. President George W. Bush (3rd R with towel) returns to the White House in Washington May 11. Bush was not at the White House during the evacuation. (Xinhua/AFP)

Two men in a small Cessna aircraft were taken into custody Wednesday after their plane entered the restricted airspace over Washington and prompted an evacuation of the White House and the US Capitol. (Xinhua/AFP)

    WASHINGTON, May 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Two men in a small Cessna aircraft were taken into custody Wednesday after their plane entered the restricted airspace over Washington and prompted an evacuation of the White House and the US Capitol.

    The Cessna was escorted by fighter jets and landed at a small airport in Frederick, Maryland.

    The US Capitol and White House were evacuated after the small plane entered the restricted security zone over the capital at about 11:28 a.m. (15:28 GMT), officials said. People at several other government buildings near the White House were also ordered to evacuate.

    The alert ended about 15 minutes later as the Secret Service gave the "all clear" and allowed staff to return to their offices. A fighter aircraft scrambled and intercepted the plane.

    President George W. Bush was not at the White House during the evacuation, officials said.

    On April 27, Bush went to an underground shelter and Vice President Dick Cheney was taken to a secure location after security officials received a false alarm that an unidentified aircraft had entered the restricted space near the White House.

    It was quickly learned that it was a false alarm and that all was clear within minutes. Enditem