Since Donald Trump took office on January 20, there have been more than 20 incidents of civilian aircraft violating the restricted airspace near his Florida home. On Sunday, Air Force fighter jets intercepted another civilian aircraft, deploying flares to get the pilot’s attention. This came shortly after another intercept on Saturday morning while Trump was at his West Palm Beach golf course. Despite the frequent intrusions, officials say that Trump’s schedule and security have not been impacted.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has raised concerns over the recurring violations, attributing them to civilian pilots not following regulations to check for airspace restrictions before flying. The ongoing issue has prompted the deployment of fighter jets to guide offending aircraft out of the restricted airspace. General Gregory Guillot, commander of NORAD and US Northern Command, emphasized the importance of adhering to Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) procedures to ensure flight safety, national security, and the President’s security.
The federal government has implemented a permanent flight restriction over Trump’s club in south Florida that expands to a 30-nautical-mile radius when he is in residence. While the flares deployed by the F-16s during Sunday’s intercept may have been visible from the ground, they quickly burn out and do not pose a danger. Despite the efforts to enforce airspace regulations, the high number of recent TFR violations indicates that many civilian aviators are not following protocols, prompting multiple interceptions by NORAD fighter aircraft.
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