Fighter Jets Respond To Multiple Aircraft Violating Restricted Airspace Near Mar-a-Lago, NORAD Says

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said fighter jets escorted multiple civilian aircraft for violating restricted airspace during President Trump’s visit to Mar-a-Lago.

“NORAD said three civilian aircraft violated the flight restrictions. All three aircraft were safely escorted out of the area by F-16 fighter aircraft,” WPTV reports.

“Twice in the past 48 hours, F-16 fighter jets from the Continental U.S. NORAD region responded to a general aviation aircraft over Palm Beach, FL, violating the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR),” NORAD stated.

Twice in the past 48 hours, F-16 fighter jets from the Continental U.S. NORAD region responded to a general aviation aircraft over Palm Beach, FL, violating the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR). Pilots, please check NOTAMs! #WeHaveTheWatch https://t.co/kwx4MvT7x6

— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) March 9, 2025

A closer look:

WPTV reports:

On Saturday, the first violation occurred at about 11:05 a.m., the second at 12:10 p.m. and the third at about 12:50 p.m.

During two intercepts, NORAD aircraft dispensed flares to warn the planes they were violating airspace. The flares were used to draw attention from or communicate with the pilot.

“Flares are employed with the highest regard for safety, burn out quickly and completely, and pose no danger to people on the ground,” NORAD said in a statement.

JUST IN – F-16 fighter jets have responded twice in the last 48 hours to general aviation aircraft violating temporary flight restrictions over Palm Beach, Florida — NORAD

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 9, 2025

JUST IN: NORAD reports there was yet another flight incursion over Palm Beach this morning. A F-16 fighter jet was dispatched to escort the general aviation aircraft out of the area. This is the 20th incursion since Inauguration Day. This is a national security issue.

— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) March 8, 2025

Per CBS12:

Gen. Gregory Guillot, Commander, NORAD and US Northern Command says adherence to TFR procedures is essential to ensure flight safety, national security, and the security of the President.

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Guillot reminds pilot that the procedures are not optional, and the excessive number of recent TFR violations indicates many civil aviators are not reading the Notice to Airmen, or NOTAMs, before each flight as required by the FAA.

“Should the pilot of an aircraft happen to find itself intercepted by one of the fighters or helicopters, they should immediately come up on frequency 121.5 or 243.0 and turn around to reverse course until receiving additional instructions on one of those frequencies,” explained Guillot.

Since the January 20, 2025 presidential inauguration, NORAD has responded to over 20 tracks of interest entering the Palm Beach, Florida TFR area.