President Donald Trump’s weekend visit to his Bedminster golf club was briefly disrupted when a fleet of fighter jets was dispatched to intercept seven unauthorized aircraft that entered restricted airspace.
The incident occurred around 2:50 p.m. when multiple unidentified planes violated the temporary no-fly zone above Trump’s New Jersey residence. The aircraft were quickly escorted out of the area by military jets deployed from the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the agency confirmed.
Flares were used to notify the pilots that they were in violation of federal airspace, and they “are employed with the highest regard for the safety of the intercepted aircraft and people on the ground,” NORAD assured, saying the flares burn out mid-air to avoid igniting a fire when they land on the ground.
Sunday’s airspace breach marked the fourth such incident of the weekend, following three similar violations on Saturday, bringing the total to seven incursions over President Trump’s Bedminster golf club.
In response to the repeated violations, pilots flying through the area are now being issued heightened warnings regarding Trump’s frequent presence in New Jersey. NORAD advised civilian aviators to plan their routes with greater care and to allow extra flight time to avoid the restricted airspace surrounding the former president’s residence.
Thankfully, none of the violations appeared to be intentional. “General aviation pilots are reminded to verify all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Notice to Airmen and fly informed before every flight,” NORAD wrote on Sunday.
The military command also emphasized that pilots must be more vigilant in monitoring temporary flight restrictions, such as those in place over Bedminster during President Trump’s visits. “All pilots must familiarize themselves with updates to restricted airspace, including reviewing new and existing FAA NOTAMs that impact their flight plans and activities,” said NORAD.
