According to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), US fighter jets were deployed on August 3 to intercept a civil aircraft violating restricted airspace over President Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, marking the fifth illegal entry into the area over the weekend.
At around 12:50 on the afternoon of August 3 (local time), a civil aircraft accidentally entered the temporary no-fly zone (TFR) above the golf club area where Mr. Trump was resting.
The incident forced NORAD to deploy fighter jets, using flares to warn and escort the plane out of the area. According to NORAD, this is the fifth airspace encroachment in just two weekends.
The flares - which could be seen from the ground by people - were used with the utmost care to ensure the safety of both intercepted aircraft and those below, NORAD said in a statement. The plane was then escorted out of the prohibited area safely, without any other incidents.
It is known that flares used in civil aircraft blocking missions are designed to burn out in the air, not endangering people or property on the ground.
NORAD has also issued a new warning to civil pilots, requiring full inspection of flight announcements (NOTAMs) from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before takeoff, emphasizing that compliance with the no-flying zone is "mandatory, regardless of area, type of aircraft or crew".
NORAD's air defense system, which includes a network of radar, satellites and fighter jets deployed across North America, is ready to respond to all air violations.
The August 3 incident came just a few weeks after a similar incident in Bedminster, when an F-16 fighter jet made a warning cut (headbutt) - a standard operation to force a strange plane to change course.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, he has been a regular rest stoper at the golf course in Bedminster. Every time he was present, the airspace around the area was temporarily banned from flight. Any violation can lead to financial penalties, questioning, or even suspension of driving licenses.
