JACKSONVILLE, Oct 23: A pilot was questioned by local law-enforcement officials on Saturday in an incident involving an airplane that flew nearby while President George W. Bush was speaking at a campaign event in Melbourne, Florida, the White House said on Saturday.

The pilot was later released.

White House spokesman Trent Duffy amended his earlier statement the pilot had been in custody.

"I probably shouldn't have used that word," Duffy said. "He was questioned and now is released."

Mr Duffy said that during the incident, the president continued speaking and "was never in any danger."

He said he did not know whether the pilot violated the president's restricted airspace.

President Bush was on a helicopter tour of four cities, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Melbourne and later, Jacksonville.

In Melbourne, Bush's stump speech was briefly drowned out when an F-16 fighter flew overhead and appeared to intercept a small plane that could be seen not too far off in the distance.Mr Duffy said he could not confirm whether it was the same plane involved in the incident where the pilot was questioned.-Reuters