U.S. sources reported today, Monday, that fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft that entered a temporary flight restricted area in Palm Beach, Florida, where President Donald Trump's luxury resort, Mar-a-Lago, is located.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 9:20 AM Eastern Time.
A statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command "NORAD" stated that "an F-16 aircraft belonging to NORAD intercepted a plane that entered the flight restricted area over Palm Beach." The command added, "the situation was handled safely."
To alert the civilian pilot, who appeared unresponsive to initial communications, a warplane performed a "head-on approach" maneuver, a standard procedure in which the fighter jet flies close to the non-compliant aircraft to visually signal it to change its course, after which the civilian aircraft was safely escorted out of the restricted area.
Palm Beach is home to President Trump's private resort, Mar-a-Lago, where he spends some time during the holiday season.
Temporary flight restrictions are routinely enacted during presidential visits or other high-profile events, creating a no-fly zone—often extending up to 30 nautical miles to protect sensitive sites and ensure national security.
In the Palm Beach area, these restrictions are frequently applied when the U.S. president is present, preventing unauthorized aircraft from entering the designated areas.
Violations can lead to serious consequences, ranging from law enforcement actions by the Federal Aviation Administration, such as fines or suspension of licenses, to interceptions by military forces. In rare cases of non-compliance, more forceful measures may be included, although outcomes such as these are avoided through standard visual signals and escort procedures.
