US News

Air Force Fighter Jets Intercept Aircraft in Restricted Airspace Near Mar-a-Lago


NORAD reported that it has detected and responded to “over 20 tracks of interest” entering the restricted area in Palm Beach since the inauguration of Trump.

On Sunday, Air Force fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft that intruded into restricted airspace near President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

The aircraft was detected entering a zone under a temporary flight restriction (TFR) at approximately 1:15 p.m. ET on March 9, as stated by NORAD.

In response, NORAD deployed F-16 fighter jets that launched flares to attract the pilot’s attention. NORAD clarified that the flares were visible from the ground, quickly burned out, and did not pose any danger.

This incident coincided with Trump concluding a round of golf at his West Palm Beach golf course. Additionally, it marked the second time in just 48 hours that F-16 fighter jets from NORAD’s Continental U.S. region reacted to such an aviation infringement over Palm Beach, Florida.

NORAD mentioned that it has dealt with “over 20 tracks of interest” breaching the restricted zone in Palm Beach since Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

Gen. Gregory Guillot, Commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, noted that civilian pilots might not be aware of the notifications filed with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“Following TFR procedures is crucial for ensuring flight safety, national security, and the protection of the President,” Guillot remarked in a statement. “The procedures are mandatory, and the significant number of recent TFR violations suggests that numerous civilian aviators are not reviewing the Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs, as required by the FAA before flying. This has led to multiple NORAD fighter aircraft responses to escort errant aircraft out of the TFR.”



Source link

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.