A member of the Capitol Police in Augusta just missed being hit by a piece of debris that fell from a passing airplane.

Where Did the Debris Hit?

Being a member of the Capitol Police is a potentially dangerous job. Any number of things could happen to a police officer guarding the Capitol in Augusta, but I'm pretty sure just missing being hit by a piece of a passing airplane would never make the list. Until last Friday. That's when Capitol Police Screener Craig Donahue was walking outside the entrance to the Capitol building at approximately 12:30 in the afternoon and was nearly hit by falling debris.

How Heavy Was the Airplane Part?

Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss says the large metal object crashed to the ground around 6 to 8 feet away from where Donahue was walking. The sleeve-like object weighed between 6 and 7 pounds and hit the ground at a high velocity. Two other people were also in the area and witnessed the incident. Luckily, no one was hurt.

What is the Federal Aviation Administration Doing About Locating the Plane?

Capitol Police immediately notified the Augusta State Airport and the Federal Aviation Administration about the incident and an investigation was launched. The FAA is now trying to find the source of the airplane part, which they say is likely from a large airliner on an international route. Aviation officials made awareness notifications to all flights that were over the Capitol area at the time. So far, the source remains unknown.

We'll update this story as more details become available.

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