A small private plane carrying a load of marijuana strayed into President Obama's no-fly zone over Los Angeles on Thursday. A small private plane carrying a load of marijuana strayed into President Obama's no-fly zone over Los Angeles on Thursday.

The plane was forced to land at Long Beach Airport, after being intercepted by U.S. Air Force jet fighters, authorities said.

The four-seat Cessna entered the restricted airspace about 11 a.m. as the president was flying from Orange County to Los Angeles aboard Marine One, a military helicopter provided for his use.

Federal officials said the aircraft was never close enough to endanger Obama.

Air traffic controllers tried repeatedly to contact the single-engine Cessna, authorities said, but the pilot did not respond.

The plane was quickly intercepted by two F-16 fighters from March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, the report said.

After the Cessna touched down, federal agents and Long Beach police detained the pilot for questioning and found what law enforcement officials described as a large amount of marijuana on board the aircraft.

The pilot was taken into custody by Long Beach police, but his identity and other details were not released because of the continuing drug investigation.