A U.S. fighter jet intercepted a civilian aircraft Saturday afternoon after the pilot flew into restricted airspace over Bedminster, New Jersey, where President Donald Trump was spending the holiday weekend. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed the incident was one of five airspace violations near the Trump National Golf Club that day.
The breach occurred just before 2:40 p.m. ET when the civilian pilot entered a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) zone without authorization. NORAD responded by deploying a fighter jet, which executed a “headbutt” maneuver—flying sharply across the nose of the violating aircraft—to get the pilot’s attention before escorting them out of the restricted area.
This technique has been employed previously during similar airspace violations over Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Officials emphasized that such actions are part of NORAD’s layered air defense system, which includes radar, satellite surveillance, and combat-ready aircraft.
The restricted airspace over Bedminster and Mar-a-Lago is automatically enforced whenever President Trump is in residence. Pilots who ignore these restrictions face significant penalties, including hefty fines and potential loss of their pilot licenses.
Saturday’s interception was the fourth violation of the day, with a fifth occurring later. The frequency of these incursions has prompted NORAD and the 1st Air Force to issue urgent reminders to pilots, including a post on X (formerly Twitter): “No excuses! Stay sharp, stay legal, and stay out of restricted airspace.”
According to defense officials, 2025 has seen over two dozen incidents of restricted airspace violations involving the president. The alarming pattern has led to increased awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement protocols to safeguard the skies over locations frequently visited by President Trump.
