A NORAD F-16 fighter jet intercepted an aircraft that entered restricted airspace over the Camp David area on Saturday morning, according to officials. President Donald Trump is spending the weekend at the Maryland presidential retreat.
Camp David is covered by a permanent no-fly zone, and additional restrictions apply when the president is present.
Intercept and Escort
During the intercept, NORAD deployed flares to attract the pilot’s attention, and the aircraft was safely escorted out of the area, the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) said in a release.
The release also provided guidance for pilots: “Should NORAD aircraft intercept a general aviation aircraft, the pilot should immediately come up on frequency 121.5 or 243.0 and turn around to reverse course until receiving additional instructions on one of those frequencies.”
Official Statements and Pilot Advisory
Trump traveled to Camp David on Friday evening.
In a post on X on Saturday, the First Air Force, part of NORAD, wrote: “Pilots! @NORADCommand fighter aircraft intercepted an aircraft violating restricted airspace over Thurmont, MD, resulting in flares being deployed. Make sure to check NOTAMs before takeoff to ensure you have current information about TFRs in your area. Stay Safe, Fly Informed!”
Previous Incident
The last interception over Camp David occurred in June, when Trump was staying there. That pilot was also safely escorted away.
