U.S. Coast Guard helicopters have intercepted a small plane that flew without authorization into restricted airspace near Washington, D.C.

Defense officials say the plane was redirected away from Washington Saturday and diverted to the nearby town of Annapolis, Maryland.

They say the pilot was to meet with law enforcement officials.

Additional details were not immediately available.

It was the third time in a week the North American Aerospace Defense Command had to scramble aircraft to prevent civilian planes from straying into restricted airspace near Washington. On June 11, two F-15 fighter jets intercepted a plane flying near Camp David, the president's retreat in Maryland where U.S. President Barack Obama was staying with his family at the time.