On Sunday, Air Force fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft that entered restricted airspace near Donald Trump’s home in Florida. This marks more than 20 such incidents since Trump took office on January 20.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported that the latest incident happened while Trump was finishing a round of golf at his West Palm Beach course. The F-16 fighter jets used flares to catch the pilot’s attention. A similar interception took place on Saturday morning shortly after Trump arrived at his golf course from his Mar-a-Lago residence.
The airspace around Trump’s home is tightly controlled, especially when he is present. A permanent flight restriction is in place over Mar-a-Lago, and when Trump is there, it expands to a 30-nautical-mile radius. Despite these restrictions, civilian pilots have repeatedly entered the area, prompting NORAD to send fighter jets to intervene.
Although these airspace violations have not affected Trump’s schedule or security, officials are concerned about the frequency of such incidents. NORAD has had to respond to over 20 unauthorized flights, which they attribute to pilots failing to check airspace restrictions before taking off.
NORAD emphasizes the importance of following Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) rules for safety and national security. General Gregory Guillot, the commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, stated that pilots must review Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) before flying. He warned that too many civilian pilots are not doing so, leading to repeated airspace breaches and requiring military jets to escort them out of restricted zones.
While fighter jets use flares during interceptions, NORAD assures that these flares burn out quickly and do not pose a threat to people on the ground. Officials urge pilots to stay informed about airspace rules to avoid unnecessary interceptions and maintain flight safety.
The incidents highlight the challenges of enforcing airspace regulations in South Florida’s busy skies. Authorities continue to stress the need for all pilots to comply with federal regulations to ensure the safety of both the public and national leaders.
