A security scare near Palm Beach International Airport on Sunday forced the Air Force to scramble F-16 fighter jets to intercept a civilian aircraft that violated restricted airspace as President Donald Trump was preparing to fly back to Washington, officials said.
Authorities briefly imposed a ground stop at the airport as the situation unfolded.
“The civilian aircraft violated the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) at approximately 1:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The aircraft was safely escorted out of the area by NORAD aircraft,” the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service said in a statement shared by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which oversees air defense for the U.S. and Canada.
NORAD said the fighter jets also deployed flares as part of the intercept.
“The flares were used to draw attention from or communicate with the pilot. Flares are employed with the highest regard for safety, burn out quickly and completely, and pose no danger to people on the ground.”