F-16 fighters were scrambled twice on Friday to intercept civilian planes that had entered a no-fly zone above Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey
- NORAD sent out two F-16 fighter jets Friday evening after pilots in separate incidents stopped communicating with air traffic controllers in New Jersey
- Trump had arrived at Morristown municipal airport for a weekend at the Trump National Golf Club
- The zone was under flight restriction from 5pm Friday until 5.45pm on Sunday due to his landing at 4.45pm to take a helicopter to Bedminster
- Witnesses posted on social media about seeing a fighter jet whizzing around
- Trump returns to his golf club next Thursday for 10 days and was last there less than two weeks ago
- A fighter jet was again seen and heard over the Princeton and Plainsboro areas on Saturday morning as it intercepted a small plane that landed without incident
Two planes were intercepted on separate occasions in New Jersey on Friday while President Donald Trump visited his golf club.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced they sent out an F-16 fighter aircraft at 7.30pm when a pilot stopped communicating with air traffic controllers around the Bedminster area.
The zone was under flight restriction from 5pm that day until 5.45pm on Sunday due to the American leader’s landing in Morristown at 4.45pm to take a helicopter to Trump National Golf Club.
NORAD sent out two F-16 fighter jets Friday evening after pilots in separate incidents stopped communicating with air traffic controllers in New Jersey. File image
President Donald Trump arrives at Morristown municipal airport for a weekend at the Trump National Golf Club
Trump had earlier departed Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to board Air Force One.
But the civilian single-engine aircraft was discovered there without the correct clearance required.
NORAD then sent a MH-65 helicopter at 8pm to investigate a second pilot in the temporarily restricted air space.
NORAD said they responded immediately and in both cases the pilots eventually ‘established positive communications with air traffic control and departed the restricted space’.
‘The events were resolved without incident,’ NORAD stated.
Witnesses posted on social media about seeing a fighter jet whizzing around in circles
Trump walks as he arrives at Morristown municipal airport for a weekend at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey
Zone was under flight restriction from 5pm Friday until 5.45pm on Sunday due to his landing in Morristown at 4.45pm to take a helicopter to Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster
The restricted area is usually a 30-mile radius around Trump National Golf Club.
Witnesses posted on social media about seeing a fighter jet whizzing around in circles and flying fast for at least 15 minutes.
A fighter jet was again seen and heard over the Princeton and Plainsboro areas on Saturday morning. It intercepted a small plane that landed without incident.
POTUS will be returning to the White House on Sunday but won’t be there long. He is set to return to the golf club next Thursday for his annual 10-day vacation.
With Trump National Golf Club being located in Bedminster where many flight routes travel, it’s not an unusual occurrence to intercept planes.
Trump was last at his golf club from July 19-21 and experienced a similar scenario when the US Air Force intercepted a small general aviation aircraft.
It landed in Pittstown without incident.
Marine One, with Trump aboard, departs the South Lawn of the White House. Trump will be back Sunday but returns to his golf club next Thursday for 10 days