WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Military fighter jets flew over Palm Beach on Sunday after a civilian plane violated restricted airspace near Mar-a-Lago, sparking a wave of speculation on social media.
THE Confirmation of North American Aerospace Defense Command that the F-16 fighter jet intercepted a general aviation aircraft that entered a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) area around 1:15 p.m.
The interception occurs after the October decision to impose a 24/7, year-round flight restriction around Mar-a-Lago.
Dispelling rumors about “drones”
The incident immediately gained momentum online after a video of a Delta Air Lines flight began circulating on social media. In the footage, a pilot can be heard informing passengers of a “ground stop” due to a potential security breach, sparking rumors that a drone was near the airport.
“They don't know exactly what it is, but apparently a drone got too close to the airport,” the pilot said over the intercom. “They had to send helicopters to go investigate this.”
However, officials have since clarified that while law enforcement investigated, the “drone scare” was a case of mistaken identity. NORAD says the main safety trigger was a civilian pilot aboard a standard aircraft who inadvertently wandered into the TFR and was not responding to radio calls. It was intercepted around 1:15 p.m., around the time the pilot claimed the plane was grounded because of a drone.
Flares deployed on Palm Beach
To attract the unconscious pilot's attention, the F-16s deployed flares, a standard procedure that was visible to many residents on the ground.
“The flares were used to attract the attention of the pilot or to communicate with him,” NORAD said in a statement. “Flares are used with the utmost regard for safety, burn quickly and completely and pose no danger to people on the ground.”
The civilian aircraft was safely escorted out of the restricted area once communication was restored.
Presidential security and airport delays
President Trump was at his West Palm Beach golf club at the time of the breach and was never in danger, according to White House Pool Reporters. Air Force One remained secure on the PBI tarmac throughout the event.
THE FAA reported Departure delays of approximately one hour at PBI on Sunday afternoon. Although the timing coincided with the interception, the FAA officially attributed the backlog to “volume” rather than the safety incident.
