Why Are Fighter Jets Flying Around Maryland?

BALTIMORE, MD — Fighter jets are conducting testing exercises north of Baltimore on Tuesday for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the agency said in a statement. The jets may be seen or heard between north Baltimore and University Park, Pennsylvania.

Between 10 a.m. and noon, the jets will be aloft, allowing for practice scenarios like how to respond to unknown aircraft and what to do when airspace restrictions are violated. During Tuesday's exercise, the fighter jets will fly close to civilian planes in the air, which will take on the role of "aircraft of interest,"officials said in a statement.

NORAD will be controlling the exercise.

These practice sessions have been conducted by NORAD in the U.S. and Canada to test responses since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

NORAD, which is responsible for providing aerospace and maritime warnings for the U.S. and Canada, is also reportedly conducting similar exercises with fighter jets on Tuesday in Florida.

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