WASHINGTON — A security incident unfolded at Palm Beach International Airport on Sunday, leading to the urgent dispatch of F-16 fighter jets by the Air Force, along with the deployment of flares. This event occurred just hours before Air Force One was scheduled to transport President Trump back to Washington, D.C.
In response to the situation, authorities temporarily halted all ground movements at the airport as they swiftly addressed the issue with the civilian aircraft involved.
The White House clarified that the alarm was raised after communication was lost with a general aviation plane, prompting immediate action.
According to a statement from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, shared by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), “The civilian aircraft violated the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) at approximately 1:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The aircraft was safely escorted out of the area by NORAD aircraft.”
The use of flares was intended to attract the pilot’s attention or establish communication, explained NORAD. “Flares are employed with the highest regard for safety, burn out quickly and completely, and pose no danger to people on the ground.”
Reassuring the public, both the White House and the Secret Service confirmed that neither Air Force One nor President Trump faced any threat during the incident.
“A general aviation aircraft was briefly out of communication with the air traffic control tower at Palm Beach International Airport, but contact was ultimately established and the ground stop was lifted,” a White House official told The Post.
“There was no drone incursion or concern regarding Air Force One, which is not slated to take off until this evening.”The president was at Trump International Golf Course during the time of the security incident at Palm Beach International Airport.
Initial reports suggested that some sort of drone incursion at the airport triggered the ground stop, with footage showing a Delta pilot informing passengers of the security scare.
The pilot claimed that “they had to scramble some helicopters to go and investigate” the situation.
A Secret Service spokesperson said that the helicopter seen taking off was likely not related to the security scare.
“While airspace violations are relatively common, particularly outside of Washington, DC, that helicopter referenced in the tweet was actually authorized for that specific area and was not related to a drone or Temporary Flight Restriction, TFR, violation,” the spokesperson said.
When asked for comment about the ordeal, the Federal Aviation Administration told The Post that “Operations are normal after the FAA slowed traffic at Palm Beach International Airport due to volume,” but declined to give an on-the-record explanation about the ground stop.
