Plane flies too close to Camp David

FREDERICK, Md. – A small plane violated the restricted airspace around the Camp David presidential retreat while the president was spending the weekend there, federal authorities said Sunday.

The pilot was forced to land and was questioned but was released late Saturday without being charged, Secret Service spokesman Jonathan Cherry said Sunday.

The White House did not respond to questions about whether President Bush had to be evacuated from the area or if he even was aware of the plane.

The Cessna was intercepted by two F-16 fighters about eight miles from Camp David at around 10:45 p.m. Saturday, the Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday. The plane was forced to land at Frederick Municipal Airport.

The Frederick News-Post reported that a man and woman were questioned.

On Wednesday, the White House briefly went to red alert when another plane entered restricted airspace around Washington. Bush was hurried from his residence, and lawmakers were ordered to evacuate the Capitol.