GAITHERSBURG, Md. -- A student pilot who skirted the edge of restricted air space around Washington was ordered to land immediately Thursday and military jets were sent to intercept the small plane, officials said.

Secret Service spokesman John Gill said the plane turned out of the restricted area before military jets reached it and it landed in nearby Montgomery County, where the pilot was questioned.

"It appears to have been inadvertent," Gill said.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, federal aviation officials extended the restricted area in the skies above Washington. The Cessna violated the new forbidden zone, not the traditional restricted areas closer to Washington's signature landmarks, Gill said.

The direct route between Tipton, where the plane started its flight, and Montgomery County Air Park, where it landed, crosses the new restricted area.

The pilot was not charged, a Secret Service agent at the scene said.

"It was obvious as soon as he got out of the airplane that he wasn't a terrorist," said Air Park manager Wendy Carter. "He's a student pilot. He's a nice guy. He's shaken up. Unfortunately, this is infrequent, but it does happen."

Flight instructor Leo Mortimer identified the pilot as Robert Hitcho.

Mortimer, who was not aboard, said Hitcho told him he used visual landmarks to guide his flight outside the restricted zone. He said Hitcho does not think he violated the zone.