F-16 fighter jets were scrambled by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) today after three civilian aircraft violated restricted airspace near former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.
Multiple Airspace Violations
The airspace breaches occurred at:
11:05 AM
12:10 PM
12:50 PM
During two of the incidents, the F-16 jets deployed flares as part of standard protocol to warn the pilots and escort them out of the restricted zone. All three aircraft were safely redirected out of the area.
Increased Security Around Mar-a-Lago
Now that Trump is president again, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) have been established around Mar-a-Lago whenever he visits.
Inner Core: No aircraft allowed within 10 nautical miles
Outer Core: Limited operations within 30 nautical miles
Frequent Airspace Violations
This is not the first time unauthorized aircraft have entered Palm Beach’s restricted airspace.
On February 15, two planes violated the zone
On February 17 (Presidents Day), another breach was reported
On February 18 at 10:49 AM, an aircraft flew over Palm Beach, prompting NORAD to scramble jets and deploy flares
A NORAD spokesperson confirmed today’s violations but did not disclose precise locations of the aircraft. However, reports suggest that some of the intercepts occurred over Wellington, an inland area west of Palm Beach.
NORAD Statement on Flares
NORAD clarified that flares are used only when necessary and are:
Designed for safety
Quickly burn out completely
Pose no danger to people on the ground
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not confirmed why the three civilian aircraft entered restricted airspace today or whether the pilots were aware of the flight restrictions.
Final Thoughts
As security around Mar-a-Lago remains tight, incidents like these highlight the challenges of enforcing restricted airspace, especially in areas with high civilian air traffic.
More updates will follow as NORAD and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigate further.
