Bush in bunker after air scare

2005-04-27 22:10

Washington - United States President George W Bush fled briefly to an underground bunker on Wednesday after his security detail feared an aircraft had entered restricted airspace near the White House, said his spokesperson.

"It was quickly learned that it was a false alarm and that all was clear in a short space of time, and everything is fine," said White House press secretary Scott McClellan.

Vice-president Dick Cheney was also taken to safety, said McClellan.

The spokesperson said Bush was in the bunker "a very short amount of time", and that he believed it was the first time the president had gone to the underground facility since the September 11 2001 attacks.

"There was a report or an indication that an aircraft had entered restricted airspace around the White House, and so there was some precautionary measures that were taken," he said.

The US secret service, which is responsible for Bush's safety, "is still looking into that".

- SAPA