F-16 forces civilian jet to leave Mar-a-Lago airspace during Trump ballot
The pilot violated a temporary flight restriction and was told to expect federal scrutiny after landing.
By Olga Paredes ·
A North American Aerospace Defense Command F-16 forced a civilian aircraft to exit restricted airspace near Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday.
The interception occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m. Eastern Time. The fighter jet flew closely ahead of the civilian plane to gain the pilot's attention. Military officials described this tactical action as a headbutt maneuver, a standard procedure for establishing contact with unresponsive aircraft.
NORAD stated that the maneuver successfully initiated communication between the military jet and the civilian pilot. The pilot then steered the aircraft out of the designated zone in compliance with flight instructions.
The civilian plane had entered a Temporary Flight Restriction area. Such restrictions are often enacted for high-profile political events, including presidential votes and rallies. The FAA communicates these limits to pilots through Notices to Airmen.
According to NORAD, the pilot of the intercepted aircraft may face enforcement action. The command noted that federal authorities could meet the pilot upon landing.
President Donald Trump was in West Palm Beach on Saturday to cast an early ballot for the upcoming midterm elections. He was accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump at the polling station. When asked if he voted along party lines, Trump replied, 'Very much so.' He later traveled to Georgia for a campaign rally.
This is the third recent instance of a civilian plane entering restricted airspace during a presidential appearance. Earlier this month, NORAD reported similar interceptions over Clemson, South Carolina, and Cincinnati, Ohio. In both cases, the president was attending campaign events for local candidates.
Source: CBS News
