NORAD Raises Concern Over 'Excessive' Mar-a-Lago Airspace Violations Since Donald Trump Took Office

Mar. 15, 2025

Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s Florida residence.Photo:Joe Raedle/Getty

Joe Raedle/Getty

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, is concerned over the “excessive” amount of airspace violations that have taken place over Mar-a-Lago sinceDonald Trump’s inauguration.

There have been more than 20 violations in less than two months since Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, with an incident that took place on Sunday, March 9, requiring F-16 interceptions of a civilian plane flying over the president’s West Palm Beach golf course, theAssociated Pressreported. In the wake of the uptick in violations, NORAD has called on civil pilots to familiarize themselves with mandatory flying guidelines.

In a statement following the March 9 incident — which transpired while Trump was finishing a round of golf — Gen. Gregory Guillot, the commander of NORAD and US Northern Command, reiterated the importance of Temporary Flight Restriction procedures.

“Adherence to TFR procedures is essential to ensure flight safety, national security, and the security of the President,” Gen. Gregory Guillot, the commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said in a statement.

F-16 fighter jet.Boris Roessler/picture alliance via Getty

Boris Roessler/picture alliance via Getty

Interceptions and violations are fairly routine, the AP reported, but not to this degree. A flight restriction applies to a radius of 30 nautical miles over Mar-a-Lago while the president is there, the outlet further noted.

The flight interception on March 9 required F-16 fighter jets to expel flares to communicate with the pilot. NORAD said that though the flares may be visible from the ground, they typically burn out and don’t pose any risk to people on the ground.

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Another interception occurred the day prior, CBS reported, shortly after Trump arrived at his golf course. Neither interception impacted Trump’s schedule or security, officials said.

The civilian flight interceptions come amid the Trump Administration’sdownsizing of the Federal Aviation Association, or FAA.NBCreported on Feb. 17 that hundreds of FAA employees were fired without warning, weeks after thecollisionof a US Army helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 that killed all 67 people involved.

source: people.com