NORAD F-16s intercept two aircraft violating restricted airspace near Trump's Bedminster golf club

On Sunday, August 9, 2026, NORAD F-16 fighter jets intercepted two civilian general aviation aircraft that violated temporary flight restrictions over Bedminster, New Jersey, where President Donald Trump was staying at his golf club. The aircraft were safely escorted out of the restricted airspace without incident. The temporary flight restrictions were in place for Trump's weekend visit to attend the LIV Golf New York tournament, where he was seen with golfer Gary Player and Saudi Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

NORAD airspace interception

• ▪Video footage of the August 9, 2026, airspace interception showed a NORAD F-16 fighter jet closing in on what appeared to be a small Cessna aircraft near Jefferson Township, New Jersey.
• ▪Following the August 9, 2026, airspace violation, NORAD declined to state whether the civilian pilots made a mistake, leaving that determination to the Federal Aviation Administration.
• ▪On Sunday, August 9, 2026, NORAD F-16 fighter jets intercepted two civilian general aviation aircraft that violated temporary flight restrictions over Bedminster, New Jersey.
• ▪Prior to the August 9, 2026, incident, NORAD reported that more than 10 general aviation aircraft violated restricted airspace over Bedminster and East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19, 2026.
• ▪The two civilian general aviation aircraft intercepted over Bedminster, New Jersey, on August 9, 2026, were safely escorted out of the restricted airspace by NORAD F-16 fighter jets.

Presidential security protocols

• ▪The August 9, 2026, airspace breach occurred amid other security incidents, including the August 4, 2026, arrest of an armed suspect at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
• ▪The Federal Aviation Administration established "VIP" temporary flight restrictions over Bedminster and Morristown, New Jersey, from August 7 through August 9, 2026, to secure the airspace during President Donald Trump's visit.
• ▪NORAD instructed general aviation pilots that if they are intercepted by military aircraft, they must immediately switch to emergency frequencies 121.5 or 243.0 and reverse course.
• ▪The Continental U.S. NORAD Region deployed U.S. Army ground-based defense assets in the Bedminster, New Jersey, area during the weekend of August 7-9, 2026, as part of a layered defense.

LIV Golf New Jersey tournament

• ▪President Donald Trump and Saudi Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan met in the player dining room at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on August 9, 2026.
• ▪During the final round of the LIV Golf tournament on August 9, 2026, President Donald Trump rode in a golf cart with legendary golfer Gary Player at the Bedminster course.
• ▪President Donald Trump stayed at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey from August 7 to August 9, 2026, to attend the LIV Golf New York tournament.