Officials said at least three general aviation aircraft violated temporary flight restrictions near Bedminster, New Jersey, on Sunday as President Donald Trump spent the weekend at his golf club, where the four-day LIV Golf New York tournament was being held.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said its F-16 fighter jets intercepted two general aviation aircraft before confirming that a third aircraft also triggered an alert as Trump was preparing to depart the area.
The third incident appeared to delay Trump’s departure by about 13 minutes. During that time, emergency SUVs, law enforcement officers and U.S. Secret Service agents were seen moving into position near the runway where Trump was scheduled to depart around 5 p.m. E.T.
Officials said the first two general aviation aircraft were safely escorted out of the restricted area by NORAD aircraft. The third aircraft "reestablished communications and became compliant before NORAD intervention was required."
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Video captured one of the first two interceptions, showing the dramatic moment an F-16 fighter jet closed in on what appeared to be a small Cessna aircraft near Jefferson Township, outside Bedminster.
Ahead of Trump landing in New Jersey, NORAD previously said that it would enforce multiple FAA-established temporary flight restrictions over the region this weekend.
Pilots and the public were also told that U.S. Army ground-based defense assets may be present in the area, operating under the Continental U.S. NORAD Region as part of the command’s routine, layered defense.
"These systems are operating under NORAD authorities, constitute a routine component of the command’s layered defense posture and work in tandem with the command’s airborne assets to monitor and protect the airspace," information published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service said.
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Officials used the incident to remind general aviation pilots to check Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) before every flight for the latest information on airspace restrictions and other flight procedures, as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
"Check NOTAMs before EVERY flight!" 1st AF/AFNORTH said in a post on X.
If a pilot becomes intercepted by NORAD aircraft, the pilot should immediately adjust their radio frequency to 121.5 or 243.0, according to information published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
They should then "turn around to reverse course until receiving additional instructions on one of those frequencies."
Temporary flight restrictions are often issued to limit aircraft operations in designated areas for presidential movements, major sporting events, national security concerns and other special events.
NORAD often employs a network of radars, satellites, fighter aircraft and other capabilities to identify and respond to potential threats in the North American airspace.
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