PHOENIX ( Drill- F-16s from the Tucson-based 162nd Fighter Wing plan to fly over Downtown Phoenix )

PHOENIX - Arizona Air National Guard F-16 fighters will be flying over downtown Phoenix Thursday as they practice intercepting hostile aircraft intent on a terrorist attack.
The F-16s from the Tucson-based 162nd Fighter Wing plan to run a series of interceptions from different approaches between 11:30 and 1 p.m.


Capt. Jason Gutierrez of the Air Guard says the fighters are from squadron's alert detachment, which provides a rapid reaction force over the region in case of an attack.
The Western Air Defense Sector exercises also involve a Lear Jet 35A business jet and Civil Air Patrol planes.
Similar exercises have been conducted since the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.