A fighter jet used a “headbutt maneuver” to intercept a civilian plane Saturday that had entered restricted airspace near President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. military officials said. Mr. Trump was in West Palm Beach that day to vote in Florida’s midterm elections.
The interception took place around 12:20 p.m. ET, when an F-16 deployed by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, flew overhead to attract the pilot’s attention, NORAD said. This tactic, called the “headbutt maneuver,” is considered standard, according to the command.
In this case, the maneuver allowed the military aircraft to establish communication with the pilot, who then steered the aircraft safely out of restricted airspace in accordance with flight instructions, NORAD said. The plane had violated a Temporary Flight Restriction, or TFR, issued over the area, meaning its pilot could “also be encountered by federal authorities upon landing and subject to enforcement action,” the command said.
The Federal Aviation Administration issues TFRs for a variety of reasons, often related to major sporting events, extreme weather scenarios, political rallies, or other engagements involving high-profile political figures, especially the president. The FAA provides the latest information on these restrictions to pilots through Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs. Pilots are encouraged to keep an eye on these regularly.
Mr. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were seen Saturday afternoon at a polling station in West Palm Beach, where the president cast early votes ahead of next week’s midterm elections. Asked if he voted along party lines, Mr. Trump replied: “Absolutely.” He then traveled to Georgia for a campaign rally.
His appearances at midterm campaign rallies across the country have triggered various temporary flight restrictions in recent weeks. Earlier this month, NORAD reported that its F-16s intercepted a plane that entered restricted airspace over Clemson, South Carolina, where Mr. Trump organized a gathering to support Darline Graham’s senatorial campaign. Just days before that, the command said a similar interception took place over Cincinnati, Ohio, near the site of another gathering at which the president was present.
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