NORAD F-16 Forces Civilian Jet Out of Mar-a-Lago Airspace

A military fighter jet forced a civilian plane to leave restricted airspace near Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday.

North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, confirmed the interception at 12:20 p.m. ET. An F-16 flew closely in front of the aircraft to gain the pilot's attention. This standard tactic, known as a headbutt maneuver, allowed the military jet to establish communication. The pilot then steered the plane out of the restricted zone in compliance with flight instructions.

The civilian plane had violated a Temporary Flight Restriction, or TFR, over the area. NORAD stated that the pilot could be met by federal authorities upon landing. The command added that the pilot is subject to enforcement action for the violation. The FAA issues these restrictions for events involving high-profile political figures, including the president. Pilots receive these updates through Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs. The agency encourages pilots to monitor these notices regularly.

President Donald Trump was in West Palm Beach on Saturday to vote in Florida's midterm election. He and First Lady Melania Trump visited a polling station in the afternoon. Trump cast an early ballot ahead of next week's elections. When asked if he voted along party lines, he said, "Very much so." He later traveled to Georgia for a campaign rally.

Recent presidential campaign stops have triggered multiple temporary flight restrictions. Earlier this month, NORAD reported an interception near Clemson, South Carolina. The F-16s intercepted a plane that entered restricted airspace while Trump supported Darline Graham's Senate campaign. Days before that, a similar interception occurred over Cincinnati, Ohio. The president had attended an event in that city. These incidents show how presidential travel shapes local air traffic rules.