U.S. Air Force fighter jets intercepted two civilian aircraft that had violated restricted airspace near President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
The incidents, which occurred over the weekend, underscore the heightened security measures in place around the president’s private residence and have drawn attention to the increasing frequency of such violations since Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025.
According to a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), F-16 fighter jets were deployed on Sunday at approximately 1:15 p.m. PDT to intercept a civilian aircraft that had entered the temporary flight restriction (TFR) zone over Mar-a-Lago.
This followed a similar incident on Saturday morning, shortly after Trump arrived at his nearby West Palm Beach golf course from the Mar-a-Lago club.
During the Sunday intercept, the jets fired flares—visible to onlookers on the ground—to gain the attention of the civilian pilot and guide the aircraft out of the restricted area.
NORAD emphasized that the flares, while noticeable, burn out quickly and pose no danger to those below.
The Associated Press reported that these incidents mark the latest in a series of more than 20 airspace violations near Mar-a-Lago since Trump took office earlier this year.
NORAD noted that the restricted airspace, enforced whenever the president is in residence, has seen repeated breaches, often by private pilots navigating the busy South Florida skies.
The Saturday intercept occurred as Trump arrived at his golf course, while Sunday’s incident took place as he concluded a round of golf, though officials confirmed that neither event disrupted the president’s schedule or compromised his security.
CNN highlighted the broader context of these intercepts, noting that NORAD has scrambled jets multiple times in recent weeks to address similar violations.
The agency has responded to over 20 “tracks of interest” entering the Palm Beach TFR since January, with two incidents occurring within 48 hours over this past weekend alone.
Axios reported that NORAD’s use of F-16s and flares reflects standard protocol to communicate with non-compliant pilots, a measure intended to ensure both safety and compliance without escalating the situation further.
The New York Post described the recurring violations as part of a “raft of private aircraft ignoring the no-fly zone” around what it dubbed the “southern White House.”
The outlet pointed out that the incidents coincided with Trump’s presence at Mar-a-Lago, a frequent weekend retreat for the president.
Meanwhile, Reuters and other mainstream sources underscored NORAD’s growing concern over the trend, with the agency urging civilian pilots to diligently review Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before flying.
General Gregory Guillot, NORAD’s commander, emphasized in a statement that adherence to TFR procedures is “essential to ensure flight safety, national security, and the security of the President,” warning that such violations are not optional.
The Washington Post provided additional detail, noting that the restricted airspace around Mar-a-Lago extends in a 10-nautical-mile inner core and a 30-nautical-mile outer core when Trump is present, a measure that often complicates flight patterns near Palm Beach International Airport.
Despite the frequency of these intercepts, officials have stressed that there is no indication of malicious intent behind the violations, attributing them instead to pilot error or ignorance of the restrictions.
These incidents follow a pattern of heightened alertness around Trump’s Florida properties, particularly after two assassination attempts in the months leading up to the November 2024 election.
While NORAD and the FAA have not announced immediate plans to alter the current TFR framework, the repeated breaches have sparked discussions about potential enhancements to airspace enforcement or pilot education efforts in the region.
As of now, the U.S. Air Force and NORAD remain vigilant, with officials promising continued monitoring and swift responses to any further violations.
For residents and visitors in Palm Beach, the sight of fighter jets and flares may become an increasingly familiar—if fleeting—part of life near the president’s estate.
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