Plane In Obama Airspace Tailed to Long Beach Airport

A Cessna 182 that flew into guarded presidential airspace was followed by two Air Force jets today until it landed at Long Beach Airport, where marijuana was found on board, authorities said.

The small plane flew into air space over Los Angeles that was restricted because the Marine One helicopter carrying President Barack Obama was still aloft. The two F-16s followed the Cessna until it landed at Long Beach Airport at 12:30 p.m., according to ABC7.

Secret Service agents interviewed the pilot and concluded that the incursion was not intentional. Federal authorities released the suspect, whose name was not released, to the Long Beach Police Department, which will conduct the drug investigation, said Long Beach police spokeswoman Lisa Massacani.

The small plane was registered to someone in San Luis Obispo County and built in 1961, ABC7 reported.

Thursday night, Long Beach police spokeswoman Massacani sent out the following statement, calling the quantity of marijuana large. She did not state whether the pilot was arrested or not, nor his name, age or city of residence.

"The Long Beach Police Department, along with multiple law enforcement
agencies, responded to the Long Beach Airport, where a plane that had
committed an air space violation was detained and found to have a large
amount of marijuana onboard.

"After federal authorities investigated, they released the man to the custody of the Long Beach Police Department, which will be conducting the drug investigation. His identity is being withheld and no further information will be released at this time, pending the ongoing investigation."

--City News service contributed information to this report.