Fighter Jets Escort Plane from Mar-a-Lago No-Fly Zone

NORAD says the civilian aircraft violated the temporary flight restriction around Trump's Florida residence.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 1:15am

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A civilian aircraft violated the no-fly zone around former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday afternoon. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said the plane was safely escorted out of the restricted airspace, with NORAD aircraft dispensing flares to communicate with the pilot.

Why it matters

The Mar-a-Lago resort has been the site of several similar airspace violations since Trump returned to power last year, raising concerns about security and the enforcement of no-fly zones around presidential residences.

The details

According to NORAD, the civilian plane violated the Temporary Flight Restriction around Mar-a-Lago around 1:15 pm EDT. The flares used by NORAD aircraft during the intercept were meant to draw the pilot's attention and communicate, and posed no danger to people on the ground.

  • The airspace violation occurred around 1:15 pm EDT on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida was the site of the airspace violation.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)

The U.S. and Canadian military organization that detected and responded to the civilian aircraft violating the no-fly zone around Mar-a-Lago.

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What they’re saying

“During the intercept, NORAD aircraft dispensed flares, which may have been visible to the public. The flares were used to draw attention from or communicate with the pilot, and posed no danger to people on the ground.”

— NORAD

What’s next

NORAD has reported similar airspace violations around Mar-a-Lago in the past, and will likely continue to monitor the area closely for any future incidents.

The takeaway

This latest airspace violation near Mar-a-Lago highlights the ongoing security challenges and need for strict enforcement of no-fly zones around presidential residences, even after a president leaves office.