Plane Escorted by F-16s After Entering President's Air Space

A single-engine plane whose pilot departed French Valley Airport today and wandered into airspace restricted for President Obama's Southern California visit was intercepted by U.S. Air Force fighter jets that escorted the wayward aviator out of the no-fly zone.

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The Cessna 172's pilot took off from the Murrieta airfield about 11:40 a.m. and flew straight into the Temporary Flight Restriction Zone established while the president's helicopter was transiting between Los Angeles and San Diego, where he visited the Camp Pendleton Marine base.

According to North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, the unidentified pilot of the four-seat plane was "out of communication" about eight miles northwest of Lake Elsinore, on a southerly heading. When air traffic controllers were unable to make contact with the pilot, two F-16 Fighting Falcons were scrambled to intercept the Cessna, according to NORAD.

Following the directions of the fighter pilots, the other pilot flew out of the restricted airspace, landing at Corona Municipal Airport a short time later.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the airspace incursion was under investigation.