Politics & Government

F-16s Force Pilot to Land Upon Entering Restricted Airspace

The Cessna 172 took off from French Valley airport Wednesday, flying into a Temporary Flight Restriction Zone established while President Obama's helicopter was transiting to Camp Pendleton.

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

The incident occurred around 11:40 a.m. when the Cessna 172's pilot took off and flew straight into the Temporary Flight Restriction Zone established while the president's helicopter was transiting between Los Angeles and San Diego, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD.

The unidentified pilot of the four-seat plane was "out of communication," and when air traffic controllers couldn't reach him, two F-16 Falcons were scrambled to intercept the plane, NORAD officials said.

Following the directions of the fighter pilots, the pilot flew back out of the restricted airspace.

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Several Temecula and Murrieta area Patch readers reported seeing the ordeal as it played out overhead. One reader witnessed it from Greer Ranch in Murrieta, while others reported catching a glimpse from Temecula.

The sounds put off by the fighter jets startled many.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

FAA officials were not able to immediately confirm the plane's identification or any information related to where the aviator may have been going.

Patch has also learned of a similar situation being investigated by the FAA that occurred at 11:25 a.m. Wednesday, also involving a Cessna 172. It was not immediately clear whether it was the same plane that reportedly took off from French Valley or if it was essentially the same incident.

The Cessna, owned by an Orange-based corporation, was southeast bound and 7.5 miles northwest of Lake Elsinore when it entered the restricted area.

The plane turned around and exited the restricted area flying northwest bound and was landed by the pilot at Corona Municipal Airport. 

—City News Service and Maggie Avants contributed to this report.



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