Authorities say two F-16 fighter jets intercepted a small civilian plane in restricted airspace around the nation�s capital over the weekend and that the pilot reported he didn�t realize he had entered an area that was off limits.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, says the jets scrambled from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland when a Cessna�s pilot didn�t immediately respond to air traffic controllers Sunday afternoon.

Canadian Army Capt. Jennifer Stadnyk, a NORAD spokeswoman, says the plane had left restricted airspace when the jets arrived and the pilot began talking with controllers. Stadnyk says she doesn�t know if the place was forced to land. The pilot wasn�t immediately identified.

NORAD is a binational American and Canadian command responsible for air defense of North America.

(AP)