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Politics

Plane Intercepted During Obama's Calif. Visit

A military jet fighter intercepted a biplane that violated restricted airspace during President Barack Obama's visit to Northern California.

NORAD spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Humphreys tells the Santa Cruz Sentinel that the F-15 was already in the air when it was dispatched to intercept the aircraft Monday afternoon.

The 1942 Stearman was escorted back to Watsonville Airport.

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A 30-mile no-fly zone was imposed because of Obama's visit to the Silicon Valley company LinkedIn.

People near downtown Santa Cruz and the harbor saw the F-15 circle the vintage plane several times at low altitude.

The pilot's name hasn't been disclosed.

The Stearman is registered to John Bernard, but he says he doesn't know anything about incident.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor says the pilot could have his license suspended.

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