US F-16 fighter jets on Sunday intercepted two general aviation aircraft over Bedminster, New Jersey, on Sunday after they entered temporary restricted airspace, officials said. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said its aircraft responded after the planes reportedly violated temporary flight restrictions in the area.
The 1st Air Force’s Air Forces Northern confirmed that two aircraft were involved. Both were safely escorted out of the restricted area, officials said. The restrictions were in place over Bedminster, where President Donald Trump was expected to spend the weekend at his golf club as it hosted the four-day LIV Golf New York tournament.
Ahead of Trump’s arrival in New Jersey, NORAD had said it would enforce several temporary flight restrictions established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Pilots and members of the public had also been warned that US Army ground-based defence assets could be operating in the area under the Continental US NORAD Region as part of the command’s routine layered defence system.
“These systems are operating under NORAD authorities, constitute a routine component of the command’s layered defense posture and work in tandem with the command’s airborne assets to monitor and protect the airspace,” information published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service said.
#BREAKING: F-16 intercepts aircraft over Bedminster, N.J., where Trump is staying. pic.twitter.com/r1I8YgnhtT
— Insider Wire (@InsiderWire) August 9, 2026
Following Sunday’s interception, officials reminded general aviation pilots to check Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) before every flight for the latest information on airspace restrictions and flight procedures.
“Check NOTAMs before EVERY flight!” the 1st Air Force/Air Forces Northern said in a post on X.
Pilots who are intercepted by NORAD aircraft are instructed to immediately change their radio frequency to 121.5 or 243.0.
They should then “turn around to reverse course until receiving additional instructions on one of those frequencies”, according to information published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
Temporary flight restrictions can be imposed to limit aircraft operations in designated areas during presidential movements, major sporting events, national security situations and other special events.
NORAD uses radars, satellites, fighter aircraft and other capabilities to identify and respond to potential threats in North American airspace.
NORAD regularly intercepts aircraft that enter restricted airspace, with fighter jets used to identify and escort them away from protected areas. In July, fighter jets had to be scrambled three times as planes came too close to Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.
More than 10 planes entered temporarily restricted airspace over Bedminster and East Rutherford, where the World Cup Final was being held, on Sunday, according to a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command. NORAD F-16 jets had to intercept three of the planes. During two of the intercepts, the jets released flares, which NORAD noted may have been seen by people on the ground.
In March, NORAD announced that an F-16 intercepted a plane over Palm Beach, Florida, near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. NORAD said the plane violated a temporary flight restriction and that it was safely escorted out of the area.