USA29 March, 20261 min read
NORAD Intercepts Civilian Plane at Mar-a-Lago, Fires Flares to Escort Out
A civilian aircraft breached the Mar-a-Lago restricted airspace in Palm Beach. NORAD scrambled F-16 jets, which fired flares and escorted the plane out.
Mar-a-Lago Airspace Breach
F-16 fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft that entered the TFR zone over Mar-a-Lago. The jets fired flares to get the pilot's attention. It remained unclear what type of civilian aircraft was involved.
Temporary Flight Restriction Enforced
The TFR is normally imposed whenever the president is in the area. Trump spends many weekends at the estate. NORAD has scrambled its jets dozens of times since Trump began his second term.
Flares Visible to Public
Flares were visible to people on the ground. The Secret Service confirmed there was no threat to the president. The incident led to a temporary ground stop at Palm Beach International Airport.
Multiple Near Misses Since 2025
NORAD has reported a number of similar incidents since Trump returned to power. All were resolved without reports of threats. The interception was conducted by the 1st Air Force at Tyndall Air Force Base.