A U.S. fighter jet used a tactic known as the "headbutt maneuver" to intercept a civilian plane that had flown into restricted airspace near President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, according to U.S. military officials. Mr. Trump was in West Palm Beach that day to vote in Florida's midterm election.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, said the interception took place at around 12:20 p.m. ET. An F-16 deployed by the command flew closely in front of the aircraft to get the pilot's attention. NORAD said the tactic is considered standard.
In this instance, the maneuver allowed the military jet to establish communication with the pilot. The pilot then safely steered the plane out of the restricted airspace, in compliance with flight instructions, NORAD said.
The aircraft had violated a Temporary Flight Restriction, or TFR, put in place over the area. That means the pilot could "also be met by federal authorities upon landing and subject to enforcement action," the command said.
The Federal Aviation Administration issues TFRs for a range of reasons. They are often tied to large sporting events, extreme weather, political rallies and other gatherings attended by high-profile political figures, especially the president. The FAA passes along the latest details about such restrictions to pilots through Notices to Airmen, known as NOTAMs, and pilots are encouraged to check them regularly.
Mr. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were seen at a West Palm Beach polling station on Saturday afternoon, where the president cast an early ballot ahead of next week's midterm elections. Asked whether he voted along party lines, Mr. Trump answered: "Very much so." He then traveled to Georgia for a campaign rally.
His appearances at midterm campaign rallies around the country have set off a number of temporary flight restrictions in recent weeks. Earlier this month, NORAD reported that its F-16s intercepted a plane that entered restricted airspace over Clemson, South Carolina, where Mr. Trump was appearing to support Darline Graham's Senate campaign. A few days before that, the command said a similar interception occurred over Cincinnati, Ohio, during a visit by the president.
