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F-16 intercepts civilian plane over Trump's Bedminster golf club in New Jersey
Trump has turned the Oval Office into a hub for his allies, friends and staff. Reuters/File Photo
An F-16 fighter jet intercepted a civilian plane on Saturday after it entered restricted airspace over President Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, the US military said.
The fighter jet, sent by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), escorted the plane safely out of the area, according to the New York Post. Trump was spending the holiday weekend in New Jersey at the time.
NORAD said this was the fifth time on Saturday that a civilian aircraft had entered the temporary flight restriction (TFR) zone. To get the pilot's attention, the F-16 performed a maneuver known as a 'headbutt,' before guiding the plane away.
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Such airspace violations have become more frequent in recent weeks, prompting NORAD to urge civilian pilots to carefully check all flight notices before taking off.
Similar incidents have happened before, including in March when a civilian plane entered restricted airspace near Trump's residence in Florida. That incident occurred just after Trump finished a round of golf in West Palm Beach. At the time, F-16s fired flares to alert the pilot.
Despite the repeated incursions, officials say none have disrupted Trump's schedule or security. NORAD explained that the flares used by fighter jets can be seen from the ground but quickly burn out.
General Gregory Guillot, commander of NORAD and US Northern Command, stressed the importance of following TFR rules to protect flight safety, national security, and the President.
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