Fighter jets were scrambled to President Donald Trump‘s New Jersey golf course on Sunday when a rogue aircraft breached the temporary flight restriction zone.
The unidentified pilot flew into the airspace above the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster at around 2.50pm and was quickly escorted out of the area by North American Aerospace Defense Command jets, the agency announced.
It had to use flares to draw the pilot’s attention, but NORAD assured the public the flares ‘are employed with the highest regard for the safety of the intercepted aircraft and people on the ground.’
The flares also burn out quickly and completely, so there is no danger to those on the ground.
The Sunday afternoon incursion marked the second of the day, after three other unauthorized incursions occurred the day before.
By Sunday night, NORAD announced that the total number of unauthorized flight incursions while President Trump was spending the weekend at his New Jersey club rose to seven.
Officials are now urging pilots to be more careful and to better plan out their trips as it does not appear the pilots had nefarious intentions in breaching the secure airspace.
‘General aviation pilots are reminded to verify all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Notice to Airmen and fly informed before every flight,’ NORAD urged.
It said all of the most recent information can be found at tfr.faa.gov.
The agency has previously stressed how important it is for pilots to avoid violating temporary flight restriction zones.
‘All pilots must familiarize themselves with updates to restricted airspace, including reviewing new and existing FAA NOTAMs that impact their flight plans and activities.
‘Adhering to FAA-restricted airspace protocols is mandatory, regardless of geographic region, airframe or aircrew.’
The president had spent his weekend at the Bedminster golf club, and returned to the White House late Sunday night.
Despite the security breaches, Trump seemed to be in a good mood later in the day as he found out that actress Sydney Sweeny is a registered Republican.
Daily Mail asked the president for his reaction to Sweeney’s surprise voter registration after he touched down in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Sunday, and the president didn’t shy away from his excitement.
‘Oh, now I love her ad,’ Trump responded.
‘You’d be surprised at how many people are Republican. That’s one I wouldn’t have known, but I’m glad you told me that,’ he continued.
‘If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.’
Daily Mail previously revealed that Sweeney registered with the Republican Party of Florida in Monroe County last June, according to public voter records.
The reveal comes as Sweeney’s controversial advertising campaign with American Eagle sparked intense backlash among liberals who accused it of subtly promoting white supremacy and eugenics.
But the controversy led many to leap to Sweeney’s defense, pointing out that the reference to ‘great genes/ jeans’ was a play on words about Sweeney’s good looks and the denim line.
