Watch CBS News

Report: Plane Carrying Marijuana Intercepted By Fighter Jets Over LA

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Two F-16 fighter jets were sent to intercept a drug-smuggling plane over Los Angeles Thursday morning just as President Barack Obama was on his way home.

Aircraft in Los Angeles were under a temporary flight restriction, which the single-engine plane violated at about 11:30 a.m., as the president was on his way back to Los Angeles International Airport to continue his West Coast fundraising trip.

The president was reportedly never in danger.

The two fighters were under the direction of NORAD and were scrambled out of March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, according to a news release. The jets intercepted the Cessna 182 and followed it until it landed.

Local police met the plane at Long Beach Airport, where officers found marijuana inside, according to the Los Angeles Times.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.