Military fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft Tuesday after it entered restricted airspace over Geneva, Ohio, where President Trump was attending a youth sporting event, officials said.
According to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, F-16 fighter jets released flares during the encounter in an effort to get the pilot’s attention. NORAD, which is responsible for monitoring U.S. and Canadian airspace, detailed the incident in a statement released after the interception.
The incident occurred at about 6:15 p.m. ET Tuesday, NORAD said, after the civilian plane breached a temporary flight restriction in place over the area. Once the flares were deployed, the aircraft was safely guided out of the restricted airspace.
NORAD officials noted that the flares may have been visible from the ground but emphasized that they are designed to minimize risk. “Flares are employed with the highest regard for safety, burn out quickly and completely, and pose no danger to people on the ground,” the command said.
Temporary flight restrictions are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and communicated to pilots through Notices to Airmen, commonly known as NOTAMs. NORAD and the FAA have repeatedly urged pilots to review those notices before departure to avoid entering restricted airspace.
The restriction over Geneva was put in place as Mr. Trump traveled to Ohio on Air Force One for the 2026 Patriot Games, a youth athletic tournament that has been heavily backed by the White House and attended by many of the president’s supporters.
The Ohio interception followed similar activity over Bedminster, New Jersey, during the weekend, near one of Mr. Trump’s golf properties. NORAD said two general aviation aircraft violated temporary restrictions over Bedminster on Sunday, prompting fighter jets to respond. Both aircraft were also safely escorted away from the restricted zone, according to the military command.
The FAA can impose temporary flight restrictions for several reasons, including security measures around major events and appearances by high-profile political figures. Similar restrictions were used last month around the World Cup final in New Jersey.
