F-16 fighter jets intercept private plane in Mar-A-Lago airspace,
Two F-16 fighter jets intercepted a private plane Sunday afternoon that was flying in airspace prohibited during the president’s visits to Mar-a-Lago.
According to a spokesman for NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the fighter jets from Homestead Air Reserve Base were already patrolling nearby airspace when they were alerted that a small private plane had violated airspace restrictions.
The plane was about 29 miles north of Mar-a-Lago, and residents in northern Palm Beach County and Martin County reported hearing the fighter jets’ loud engines overhead.
The pilot of the private plane was unaware of the airspace restriction, a NORAD spokesman said. The fighter jets escorted the small plane to the North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport. The FAA will determine whether the pilot should be fined.
Of the dozens of violations during the president’s 10 visits to Palm Beach County, at least six violators were intercepted by military aircraft. The intercept on Sunday was the only intercept by fighter jets during the president’s holiday visit.
The FAA issues advisories called TFRs — temporary flight restriction — to pilots several days before a presidential visit, laying out airspace restrictions and warning them to check back often for changes.
When the president visits Mar-a-Lago, all air operations, with a few exceptions, are prohibited within the 10-mile inner circle ring centered on Palm Beach International Airport. Certain operations are allowed in the outer ring extending 30 miles from the airport.
At least 27 aviators violated flight restriction zones during the first three weekends President Donald Trump was at his Palm Beach Mar-a-Lago estate after his inauguration in January 2017, according to the FAA.
The FAA’s breakdown of violations for the first three stays: 10 violations Feb. 3-5, three Feb. 10-12, and 14 Feb. 17-20, the long Presidents Day weekend.
“Previous TFRs in this region have resulted in numerous airspace violations,” the FAA alert states. “We need your help in getting the word out: Please pass this information along to as many pilots and aviation professionals as possible.”
The Homestead Air Reserve Base, where the intercept fighter jets are located, is about 25 miles south of Miami. It is a fully combat-ready unit capable of providing F-16C multipurpose fighter aircraft, along with mission ready pilots and support personnel, for short-notice worldwide deployment.