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Airspace Restrictions Violated Twice During Obama's Southland Visit

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Two small planes were intercepted by the military Thursday for violating airspace restrictions during President Barack Obama's visit to the Southland, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

A Cessna 206 was intercepted about 9 a.m., and a Cherokee PA 28 was intercepted about 9:30 a.m., according to Lt. Cmdr. William Lewis of North American Aerospace Defense Command.

"The fighters responded after the aircraft entered a temporary flight restricted area, and escorted them until they departed the area," Lewis said in a written statement.

The pilots were directed to contact the Federal Aviation Administration for further instructions, Lewis said.

On Wednesday, an F-16 fighter jet intercepted a Cessna 117 northwest of Los Angeles. That plane was forced to land at Camarillo Airport in Ventura County, where Secret Service personnel questioned the pilot, according to Capt. Mike Hartmann of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

On May 11, a small private plane was intercepted by fighter jets and forced to land at El Monte Airport after the pilot inadvertently entered restricted airspace during an Obama visit.

On another presidential foray to the Southland Feb. 16, a Cessna was intercepted by two F-16s and forced to land at Long Beach Airport, where authorities found marijuana on the plane.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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