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PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A NORAD fighter jet intercepted a civilian plane over Palm Beach Saturday after it entered restricted airspace near President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate while he was in town, officials said.
The F-16 responded around 12:20 p.m. after the plane entered airspace restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration and monitored by the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
The fighter jet performed a maneuver known as a “headbutt” to get the pilot’s attention. The civilian pilot then established communication and safely exited the restricted airspace while following instructions, NORAD said.
The no-fly zone around Mar-a-Lago remains in place even when Trump is away. The FAA renewed the year-round flight restriction within a one-nautical-mile radius of the estate for another year last week.
When Trump is in the Palm Beach area, additional flight restrictions expand the no-fly zone, including a 10-mile inner ring and a 30-mile outer ring, according to Reuters.
When a plane enters restricted airspace, air traffic controllers alert NORAD, which can send fighter jets to investigate and escort the aircraft out.
Officials say most violations involve small, single-engine planes and are unintentional. Since Trump took office in January 2025, NORAD says they have intercepted more than 60 aircraft that violated flight restrictions in the West Palm Beach area.
Pilots intercepted by NORAD should immediately contact authorities on emergency frequency 121.5 or 243.0 and reverse course until they receive further instructions, officials said. Pilots who violate the restrictions may also face federal enforcement action after landing.
