This Article is From Jun 07, 2012

F-16 intercepts small plane in Obama's air space

F-16 intercepts small plane in Obama's air space

Representational pic

Los Angeles: An F-16 fighter intercepted a small private plane after it entered air space that was restricted for President Barack Obama's fundraising visit on Wednesday night.

The single-engine Cessna was intercepted shortly and forced to land before 5 pm Wednesday, according to a statement from the North American Aerospace Command.

Obama was at the Beverly Hilton at the time, and was later taken to the Regent Beverly Wilshire for a 600-person campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles held by gay and lesbian supporters.

The plane was intercepted northwest of Los Angeles and landed without incident at an airfield in Camarillo.

There have been similar incidents when Obama visited Los Angeles in the past.

In May, a pilot mistakenly flew into restricted airspace as the president was about to leave the city from Los Angeles International Airport.

A similar scenario played out during Obama's February visit, when F-16 jets intercepted a plane that entered the airspace of Obama's helicopter, Marine One.

That plane was forced to land at Long Beach Airport, where police said they found about 40 pounds of marijuana during a search of the Cessna, and the pilot was arrested.
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