Twice over the weekend, F-16 fighter jets had to respond after civilian aircraft violated the restricted airspace over President Donald Trump’s Florida residence. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed that both incidents resulted in rapid military intervention.
The first event took place on Saturday morning, forcing NORAD to send jets to intercept and escort the unauthorized aircraft out of the area. A second plane entered the restricted airspace Sunday afternoon, triggering another military response.
To communicate with the pilots, the F-16s deployed flares, a commonly used tactic to warn aircraft and direct them away from restricted zones. Officials assured that these flares are designed for safety and do not pose a threat to civilians on the ground.
According to NORAD, more than 20 unauthorized flights have entered the restricted airspace over Mar-a-Lago since Trump’s return to office in January. Gen. Gregory Guillot, NORAD’s commander, warned that too many pilots are failing to check flight restrictions before takeoff, leading to repeated military responses.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been coordinating with NORAD to prevent additional violations. Officials reminded all aviators that temporary flight restrictions around Mar-a-Lago are not optional and must be followed for security reasons.
While the incidents did not pose an immediate threat to Trump, authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Security measures remain in place to ensure swift military responses if more airspace violations occur.
