Fighter jets intercept 2 aircraft in D.C. area

Two civilian aircraft were intercepted by the military Saturday in separate incidents in the skies over the Washington region, authorities said.

The interceptions, made by fighter jets in both incidents and a helicopter in one, were directed by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, officials said.

The interceptions were at least the 11th and 12th in the Washington and Camp David areas in about six months.

Saturday’s first incident came at 9:45 a.m. when two Air Force F-16s intercepted a civilian aircraft that was out of radio communication, NORAD said. Communication was regained and the aircraft proceeded to its original destination, NORAD said.

In the second incident, ­NORAD said an F-16 and a Coast Guard helicopter intercepted an aircraft about 11 a.m. in restricted airspace. The aircraft was escorted from the restricted area and allowed to go on its way, NORAD said.

The civilian aircraft were not described, and the locations of the intercepts were not given.

When the president travels, airspace in his location may be temporarily restricted. Last month, ­NORAD reported intercepting private aircraft in four separate incidents within 24 hours in the Silicon Valley area of California while the president was there.