Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County, Maryland, is the home base for the two Boeing aircraft known as Air Force One when the president is on board. It is, like other military outposts, a highly secure area. However, it was recently the scene of a crime.
On Monday, February 6, at about 11:30 a.m., the Joint Base Andrews Twitter account sent a message revealing that an intruder had obtained access to the housing area. During the incident, a base resident discharged their firearm.
At around 11:30 a.m. today, Feb. 6, a man gained unauthorized access to a JBA housing area. A resident discharged a firearm, security forces arrived on scene to apprehend the intruder, & law enforcement is investigating the incident. No injuries nor property damage reported.
— Joint Base Andrews (@Andrews_JBA) February 7, 2023
The resident who shot their weapon was the husband of the Air Force’s senior enlisted leader, Chief Master Sergeant JoAnne Bass, according to the Associated Press. Rahn Bass apparently fired a warning shot at the intruder while he was at the military leader’s home.
The chief master sergeant issued a statement in which she and her husband expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of support. She stated that her husband was safe and appreciated the Security Forces Airmen for their “rapid response and professionalism.”
This is the second occasion in as many years that someone has gained access to the base. A man managed to slip past a security barrier in February 2021. He then passed through more guarded zones and was able to board a C-40 plane. An investigation was launched as a result of the breach.
After an airman observed someone wearing a “mouse ears” cap, the intruder was apprehended. An inspector general probe eventually revealed the breach was the consequence of “human failure,” The Hill reported.
In addition to the presidential planes, Andrews AFB is home to the so-called “Doomsday Planes.” Those are Boeing E-4B planes, a militarized version of the Boeing 747-200, designed to act like mobile command centers in case of a nuclear attack. The Air Force is currently developing replacements for the aging doomsday fleet.
