Military fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft Tuesday evening over Geneva, Ohio, after it flew into restricted airspace while President Trump was attending a youth athletic tournament in the area. The jets dispensed flares to signal the pilot.
The interception took place at approximately 6:15 p.m. ET, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The civilian plane had violated a temporary flight restriction that was in place because of Trump's presence in the area. It was safely escorted out of the restricted airspace after the flares were deployed.
"Flares are employed with the highest regard for safety, burn out quickly and completely, and pose no danger to people on the ground," NORAD officials said, adding that the flares may have been visible to people on the ground.
Trump had traveled to Ohio on Air Force One for the 2026 Patriot Games, a youth athletic tournament that CBS News reported has been heavily backed by the White House and attended by many of the president's supporters.
The Geneva incident was not isolated. Over the weekend, fighter jets were also scrambled over Bedminster, New Jersey, where one of Trump's golf courses is located. Two general aviation planes violated temporary flight restrictions over Bedminster on Sunday, also triggering interceptions. Those planes were likewise safely escorted from the restricted airspace.
Temporary flight restrictions are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and distributed to pilots through Notices to Airmen, known as NOTAMs. Both NORAD and the FAA encouraged pilots to check those notices before taking off. The FAA issues the restrictions for large events attended by high-profile political figures, including last month's World Cup final in New Jersey.
