F-16 fighter jets intercepted three separate aircraft violating restricted airspace over former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence on March 1, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The incidents occurred in the late morning and early afternoon at 11:05, 12:10, and 12:50 local time.
Following Trump’s second term inauguration, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the US Secret Service activated temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) near his primary residence in West Palm Beach, Florida. These restrictions have been in place intermittently since 2019 due to Trump’s frequent visits.
NORAD responded to each violation by deploying multiple F-16 fighter aircraft from the Continental US NORAD region. All three violating aircraft were safely escorted out of restricted airspace. In two instances, F-16s dispensed flares to attract the pilots' attention; these flares pose no danger to people on the ground but may be visible to spectators.