Overview

• At about 12:50 p.m. ET on August 3, NORAD scrambled F-16s to intercept a civilian aircraft that entered the Temporary Flight Restriction over Trump National Golf Club, using flares to draw the pilot’s attention and safely guide it out of the zone.
• It was the second intercept of the day and marked the fifth unauthorized incursion over the weekend at Bedminster, reflecting a rise in TFR violations since President Trump’s second term began.
• NORAD emphasized that flares are a controlled, nonlethal tool that burn out quickly and pose no hazard to people on the ground.
• Military and aviation officials reiterated that general aviation pilots must review FAA NOTAMs 9839 through 9842 and adhere strictly to all restricted airspace protocols.
• Previous incidents this year include five scrambles in one day over Bedminster in July and multiple March breaches near Mar-a-Lago, underscoring ongoing enforcement challenges around presidential retreats.