F-16 fighter jets from the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, intercepted two civilian aircraft Sunday that violated temporary flight restrictions over Bedminster, New Jersey, where U.S. President Donald Trump’s golf club is located.
“All aircraft were safely escorted out of the area by NORAD aircraft,” the command said. Footage of the fighter jets that were scrambled, as well as video of Trump at the site, circulated on social media.
Watch the footage:
F-16s were scrambled during Trump's visit to New Jersey
The U.S. command clarified that both aircraft were general aviation planes, a term that usually refers to civilian flights that are not operated by commercial airlines. No danger to Trump or to the club has been reported at this stage, and the two aircraft were removed from the restricted airspace without incident.
Bedminster is known mainly for Trump’s luxury golf club, where he often stays. When the president visits the area, the Federal Aviation Administration imposes temporary flight restrictions, known as TFRs, as part of the security perimeter around him. Pilots are required to check updated notices about airspace restrictions before takeoff. The light civilian aircraft handled by the F-16s apparently entered the sterile airspace by mistake.
Trump plays golf: archive
(Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Following the incident, NORAD also issued a reminder to pilots on how to act if a fighter jet is scrambled toward them: immediately switch to the emergency frequency, 121.5 or 243.0, change course and follow the instructions they receive. The command again stressed that pilots must check relevant NOTAM notices before every flight and comply with temporary flight restrictions.
This is not the first time recently that fighter jets have been scrambled after aircraft entered restricted airspace in the area. On July 19, NORAD said more than 10 general aviation aircraft entered restricted airspace over Bedminster and East Rutherford, New Jersey, in a single day. In three of the cases, F-16s were required to intercept the aircraft, and in two of them they released flares intended to get the pilots’ attention. Those incidents also ended without casualties, and all aircraft were safely escorted away.
NORAD explains that flares used during intercepts are intended to alert the pilot and get their attention. They are fired with safety precautions, burn out quickly and are not meant to endanger people on the ground. Operational responsibility for missions of this kind lies with NORAD’s Continental U.S. Region, headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida.