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Palm Beach, FL - A civilian aircraft entered restricted airspace near former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Sunday, prompting the U.S. Air Force to scramble F-16 fighter jets.
According to military officials, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed the interception, stating that the jets deployed flares to signal the pilot after the plane entered temporarily restricted airspace while Trump was finishing a round of golf at his West Palm Beach course.
Military officials assured that the flares, though visible from the ground, burn out quickly and do not pose a safety risk.
This marked the second airspace violation in just two days.
On Saturday morning, fighter jets responded to another unauthorized aircraft shortly after Trump arrived at the golf course from Mar-a-Lago.
Since Trump took office on January 20, there have been more than 20 incidents where civilian pilots have breached restricted airspace in South Florida, an area known for heavy air traffic.
While such violations and military responses are not uncommon, NORAD has raised concerns over the increasing frequency of these incidents, emphasizing that pilots must check for airspace restrictions before taking off.
Federal authorities have established a permanent flight restriction around Mar-a-Lago, which expands to a 30-nautical-mile radius whenever the former president is in residence.
General Gregory Guillot, who leads NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, stressed the importance of adherence to Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) to maintain national security.
He noted that many civilian pilots appear to be neglecting Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), which provide critical airspace updates from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Officials are urging pilots to stay informed of airspace restrictions to avoid further security responses and maintain safe flight operations in the region.