In a major airspace security incident, US Air Force fighter jets were scrambled on Sunday to intercept a civilian aircraft flying into a restricted zone near former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in West Palm Beach, Florida. This marks the latest violation in a series of over 20 such incidents since Trump’s presidency began.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed the incident, revealing that F-16 fighter jets were deployed with flares to alert the pilot and ensure compliance with temporary flight restrictions (TFRs). Fortunately, the jets did not affect Trump’s golf schedule or personal security, but this breach, combined with another intercept on Saturday, raised new concerns over aviation safety in the region.

History of Security Breaches

The airspace surrounding Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club is subject to a permanent flight restriction whenever the former president is in residence. These restrictions extend to a radius of 30 nautical miles, with violations resulting in swift NORAD responses. However, the recent uptick in airspace violations has raised alarms.

On Saturday morning, another civilian aircraft triggered an intercept shortly after Trump arrived at the golf course from Mar-a-Lago. This incident adds to the growing number of airspace intrusions in the heavily congested south Florida airspace.

NORAD’s Response and Growing Concerns

Despite the routine nature of such interceptions, NORAD is expressing heightened concern due to the frequency of these violations since Trump’s inauguration. Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of NORAD and US Northern Command, warned that civilian pilots were not following the required regulations, which involve checking Notice to Airmen (NOTAMS) before flight.

The lack of adherence to these procedures has resulted in numerous fighter jet intercepts, highlighting the increased risk of such violations to national security and aviation safety.

Gen. Guillot emphasized, "Adherence to TFR procedures is essential to ensure flight safety, national security, and the security of the President." While violations are considered relatively routine, the increasing frequency of these incidents is prompting authorities to intensify their monitoring efforts.

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