Fighter Jets Intercept Planes Breaching Trump No Fly Zone
The U.S. military polices the airspace around the president, including over Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort or his Bedminster golf course, when the Republican is in residence.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), made up of American and Canadian forces, has frequently intercepted aircraft that violate temporary restrictions in the airspace around the president.
The First Air Force at Florida's Tyndall Air Force Base said in a statement on Saturday that a NORAD fighter jet had intercepted a "general aviation aircraft" over Bedminster at approximately 2:39 p.m. EDT. This is a broad term referring to non-commercial civilian aircraft.
A temporary flight restriction, or TFR, was in place, the military said. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) puts out Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) to air crews, which are enforced by NORAD. TFRs are typically put in place during presidential visits.
The fighter jet carried out what is known as a "headbutt maneuver" to get the attention of the civilian pilot before escorting the aircraft out of the area, the military said. This is a fairly typical maneuver for NORAD jets enforcing temporary restrictions in the airspace around where the president is.
The NORAD aircraft was an F-16, a spokesperson told Reuters.
The U.S. military had already reported three TFR violations earlier in the day, and a further incident later on Saturday brought the total to "five unauthorized incursions," according to the statement.
The FAA, as of early Sunday, had restrictions in place from July 4 until July 6. Pilots in the air are responsible for making sure they check Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs.
Shortly after NORAD F-16 aircraft intercepted a civilian aircraft over Palm Beach, Florida, in early March, the command's chief, General Gregory Guillot, condemned what he termed the "excessive number of recent TFR violations."
NORAD said at the time that in the less than two months since Trump's inauguration, NORAD had "responded to over 20 tracks of interest entering the Palm Beach, Florida TFR area."
The First Air Force said in a post to social media on Saturday: "These TFRs are in place for a reason. No excuses! Stay sharp, stay legal, and stay out of restricted airspace."
NORAD will continue to enforce FAA flight restrictions.
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