Video shows F-16s intercept jets after airspace breach while Trump is at Bedminster

BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY: A video circulating online shows a NORAD F-16 closing in on a small aircraft near Bedminster, New Jersey, after two civilian planes entered restricted airspace on Sunday, August 9.

Officials said both aircraft were intercepted and safely escorted out without incident.

The restrictions were in place as President Donald Trump was present at his Bedminster golf club, which was hosting the LIV Golf New York event.

Fighter jets move in to protect POTUS

Footage captures a NORAD F-16 chasing a small Cessna near Jefferson Township, just outside the restricted zone around Bedminster.

Officials initially reported multiple airspace violations, but later clarified that two civilian aircraft had entered the temporary no-fly zone.

Both planes were intercepted and guided safely out by military jets, with no further details released about the pilots.

The breach happened under tight security, with the FAA enforcing flight restrictions as President Donald Trump was visiting his Bedminster golf club during the LIV Golf New York event.

NORAD had already signaled a strong response posture for the weekend, warning that fighter jets could be deployed to secure the airspace.

Officials had also cautioned that US Army ground-based defense systems could be active in the area, operating under the Continental NORAD Region as part of its standard layered security setup.

NORAD issues pilot warning

The incident set off a renewed warning from military officials, with a clear message to pilots: know the rules before you’re in the air.

“Check NOTAMs before EVERY flight!” 1st AF/AFNORTH stressed in a post on X, pointing to the critical role of Notices to Airmen, the real-time alerts that outline temporary restrictions and safety requirements.

NORAD also laid out what happens in an interception scenario.

Pilots who are approached midair are expected to immediately switch to emergency radio frequencies 121.5 or 243.0 and follow directions from the fighter jet without delay.

These restricted zones are not unusual. They are routinely put in place during presidential travel and large-scale events, often forcing civilian pilots to reroute or steer clear of certain airspace altogether.

Behind the scenes, enforcement relies on a layered defense network combining radar, satellites, and rapid-response fighter jets like the F-16s seen in the footage to detect, track and redirect any aircraft that strays into protected zones.