Three civilian aircraft reportedly breached restricted airspace over Palm Beach, Florida, near former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
According to Newsmax host Todd Starnes, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled F-16 fighter jets to intercept the planes and escort them out of the area. During two of the incidents, the jets deployed flares as part of the interception. Despite the tense situation, all three aircraft were safely guided out of the restricted airspace.
According to Starnes, the incidents took place at 11:05 a.m., 12:10 p.m., and 12:50 p.m. The circumstances surrounding why these aircraft entered restricted Palm Beach airspace remain unclear, but such incidents have become increasingly frequent in recent weeks.
On February 20, *The Palm Beach Post* reported that three airspace violations occurred during Trump’s six-day visit to Mar-a-Lago that month—two on February 15 and one on Presidents Day, February 17.
An F-16 fighter jet is pictured on October 31, 2020
President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida
A civilian recorded this video of an F-16 flying over the Palm Beach area on February 18. That day, there was another civilian aircraft flying improperly in the airspace
A NORAD spokesperson did not specify the exact locations of the aircraft over Palm Beach, but reports indicated that F-16s responded to airspace violations over Wellington, a more inland community.
NORAD also reported another civilian aircraft violating Palm Beach airspace on February 18 at approximately 10:49 a.m. Fighter jets were once again scrambled, deploying flares to signal the pilot. The agency emphasized that flares are used with the highest regard for safety, burn out quickly, and pose no risk to people on the ground.
A civilian captured footage of one of the fighter jets deployed that day and submitted the video to WPTV, an NBC affiliate in West Palm Beach. The jet was recorded flying over Boynton Beach, just south of Palm Beach.
Now that Trump is president again, temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) are enforced around Mar-a-Lago whenever he visits. According to the FAA, TFRs limit aircraft and drone operations in a designated area for a set period. When Trump is at Mar-a-Lago, the inner core of the TFR extends 10 nautical miles, while the outer core reaches 30 nautical miles, as outlined by the National Business Aviation Association.
