WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Air Force fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft flying in the temporarily restricted airspace near Donald Trump’s Florida home Sunday, marking over 20 violations since the president’s inauguration on Jan. 20. North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) stated that during Sunday’s incident, occurring while Trump was playing golf at his West Palm Beach golf course, F-16s used flares to gain the attention of the civilian pilot. Additionally, jets intercepted another aircraft on Saturday morning as Trump arrived at the course from his private Mar-a-Lago club. Despite the airspace breaches in the busy south Florida area, officials confirmed that they did not disrupt Trump’s schedule or jeopardize his security.
NORAD explained that the flares, which may have been visible from the ground, burn out quickly and do not pose a threat. There is a permanent flight restriction over Trump’s club that extends to a 30 nautical mile radius when the president is present. Although airspace violations and intercepts are common, NORAD expressed concern over the increasing number of incidents since Trump’s presidency began, responding to more than 20 cases. The blame was put on civilian pilots for failing to adhere to regulations that mandate checking for airspace restrictions before taking off.
Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of NORAD and US Northern Command, emphasized the importance of following Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) procedures for flight safety, national security, and the president’s security. He stressed that compliance with regulations is not optional and highlighted the need for civil aviators to review Notice to Airmen (NOTAMS) before each flight as mandated by the FAA. Multiple responses by NORAD fighter aircraft have been necessary to redirect offending aircraft out of the TFR zone due to the recent surge in violations.
