F-16 fighter jets operated by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) intercepted two general aviation aircraft in Bedminster, New Jersey, after they breached temporary flight restrictions, according to reports.
Officials stated that the general aviation aircraft were safely escorted out of the restricted area by NORAD jets, a joint military organization of the U.S. and Canada responsible for aerospace monitoring and defense.
The temporary flight restrictions were in place for the Bedminster area, where President Donald Trump was visiting this weekend for the LIV Golf New York tournament held at his golf club.
Prior to the U.S. leader’s arrival in New Jersey, NORAD had announced it would enforce these temporary flight restrictions set by American authorities for the weekend.
Pilots and the public had also been informed that ground-based defense systems of the U.S. military might be present in the area.
In light of today’s incident, U.S. officials reminded general aviation pilots to check notification systems before every flight for the latest information regarding flight procedures and any restrictions.
Temporary flight restrictions are often issued to limit aircraft operations in areas designated for presidential travel, major sporting events, national security concerns, and other special events.
