 "Donald Trump plays golf at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. Reuters/File Photo")
The US fighter jets had to be scrambled on Sunday (August 3) after a civilian aircraft strayed into restricted airspace near President Donald Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
The incident, which took place around 12:50 pm local time, marked a significant breach of a temporary flight restriction (TFR) zone established over the Trump National Golf Club, as outlined by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
NORAD reported that military jets were scrambled to address the situation, employing flares to signal the pilot to exit the restricted area.
The civilian aircraft was safely escorted out, and NORAD noted that while the flares may have been visible from the ground, they burned out quickly and posed no threat to those below.
Second such breach in the day
This incident was not an isolated event. It was the second unauthorised entry into the restricted airspace that day and one of five such violations over the weekend.
President Trump was at the golf club during the incident, according to his public schedule, and was expected to return to the White House later that evening.
As of now, the White House has not released an official statement regarding the breach.
Since President Trump began his second term in January, violations of restricted airspace have become increasingly frequent. In July alone, NORAD intercepted five aircraft in a single day over the Bedminster area. A similar incident occurred in March near Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s luxury resort and residence in Florida.
NORAD highlighted the importance of compliance with airspace regulations, stating, “Adhering to FAA restricted airspace protocols is mandatory, regardless of geographical region, airframe, or aircrew.”
The agency urged pilots to stay vigilant and thoroughly review Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) before flying near restricted zones. These notices provide critical updates on airspace restrictions that could impact flight plans.