Residents of Palm Beach are expressing strong dissatisfaction with flight restrictions around Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, complaining that the rerouted aircraft are disrupting their peaceful environment.
The opulent resort, owned by the former US president, has been encircled by a temporary no-fly zone, enforced around the clock since October 20.
This directive prohibits any aircraft from flying within a one-nautical-mile radius of Mar-a-Lago, regardless of whether Trump is present in the area.
Locals, growing increasingly exasperated, are vocal about how the new flight paths are impacting their serene lifestyle.
‘I am scared,’ Jennifer Tucker, who identified herself as a doctor, said Thursday at a Citizens’ Committee on Airport Noise public meeting.
One resident warned, “You should be concerned. The noise has adverse effects on mental health and can lead to cardiac issues, hypertension, and even strokes.”
She continued, “This is a serious matter that could be fatal. I’m pleading with you to reconsider.”
Another resident called the noise ‘crazy’ and said it was affecting her from early in the morning to late into the night.
Mar-a-Lago was placed under a 24/7 temporary no-fly-zone on October 20, which bars aircrafts from flying within a radius of one nautical mile
The flight restrictions are in place regardless of whether Trump is in Palm Beach at the time
‘I was here before Mr. Trump was in Mar-a-Lago,’ Karen Steele said.
‘Now that this is being done, I can attest to how horrific this is for our neighborhood.’
She claimed that the new Federal Aviation Administration measures meant that ‘fumes’ and ‘toxins’ were ‘coming down on us.’
‘I can tell you I went for a walk on Sunday afternoon at 1pm. One would think that would be a nice, quiet time to take a walk,’ Steele explained.
‘In fact, every three minutes for 15 minutes, there was a flight overhead. I stopped counting after the first 15 minutes.’
A second-generation Palm Beach resident said he was ‘really sad’ about potentially having to move his family away due to the new noise brought on by the planes.
‘Given the current state of affairs, which is planes traveling at low altitude with incredible noise, starting before 6am and continuing well after 11pm, I’m starting to wonder if we’re going to have to relocate,’ Nevin Bauman said.
He claimed his four–year–old child ‘tossed and turned’ every time a plane traveled over their residence.
Locals had ‘substantial complaints’ about the constant disruptions caused by the flight restrictions
Palm Beach Town Manager Kirk Blouin said that locals came with ‘substantial complaints’ following the implementation of the no-fly-zone.
Their concerns were primarily related to quality of life, noise and pollution.
The average value of a home in Palm Beach is about $2 million, according to Zillow.
‘I think our residents can appreciate that the flight path is needed when President Trump is in residence. But the question is: why?’ he said.
‘Why – when he’s not in residence – [should] all the residents of the town of Palm Beach and West Palm Beach be affected by this new flight pattern?’
Others had the same question in mind.
‘It’s silly that you have to have these planes go over your house when he’s not here,’ Robert Austin said.
He said the noise from the planes could ruin something as simple as a conversation.
Palm Beach County commissioner Gregg Weiss is attempting to schedule a meeting with US Secret Service about the noise created by the new flight paths
‘We can’t hear each other,’ he explained.
A notice posted by the FAA said the no-fly-zone will be in place until October 20, 2026.
The reason given for the flight restrictions was listed as ‘for Special Security Reasons.’
Some locals complained they could not live with the flight disruptions for much longer.
‘My house is filled with the smell of jet fuel,’ Jane Jones said.
An unidentified man said soot from the planes had turned his white roof gray.
‘I assume that given the current circumstances, it will eventually get black and probably before the president has left the White House,’ he said.
Complaints from the locals could soon be heard by the US Secret Service, according to Palm Beach County commissioner Gregg Weiss, but a meeting has not been possible yet.
The temporary flight restriction over Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort runs until October 20, 2026
The reason given for the flight restrictions was listed as ‘for Special Security Reasons’ on the FAA website
‘We’ve been told that they can’t meet because of the shutdown. I don’t understand it. They’re working. They’re essential workers,’ Weiss said.
The Secret Service provides security requirements for the flight restrictions imposed by the FAA.
‘The first thing is, we need to get an explanation as to what’s going on and why. It’s not right,’ Weiss added.
He vowed ‘to get to the bottom of this’ issue and address the locals’ increasing noise concerns.
‘We all want to protect the president when he is here. God forbid we don’t want anything to happen here in Palm Beach County and nor will it because of our security,’ Weiss said.
‘However, when he’s not here, I don’t understand that.’
