BULLHEAD CITY, AZ — A F-16 fighter jet intercepted a plane that was flying in a restricted area during President Trump’s rally in Bullhead City Wednesday.
The following is a statement from North American Aerospace Defense Command:
North American Aerospace Defense Command directed F-16 aircraft to investigate a general aviation aircraft that was not in communication with air traffic control and entered the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) area [Trump Rally] surrounding Bullhead City, Arizona, without proper clearance.
The violating aircraft was non-responsive to initial intercept procedures, but established radio communications after NORAD aircraft deployed signal flares. The violating aircraft was escorted out of the restricted area by the NORAD aircraft without further incident.
Secret Service agents ran toward the President as the event unfolded but ultimately did not go on stage.
Officials did not say if the pilot intended to cause the President harm.
The incident was partially captured on video.
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1321543588099067911?s=20
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2 Responses
Flying into restricted airspace happens all the time with general aviation (i.e., amateur) pilots. This is hardly news.
Ooops. I implied that all general aviation pilots are amateurs. That’s backwards. All amateur pilots are general aviation pilots, but plenty of general aviation pilots are skilled professionals. My apologies to all the general aviation pilots who are reading YWN.