F-16s Intercept Plane Near Trump Event in Geneva, Ohio

Fighter jets intercepted a civilian plane flying through restricted airspace Tuesday over Geneva, Ohio, where President Trump was attending a teen athletic event, military officials said.

F-16 jets dispensed flares to catch the attention of the pilot during the encounter, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, which monitors U.S. and Canadian airspace.

The interception took place around 6:15 p.m. ET, NORAD said, as the civilian plane violated a temporary flight restriction over the area. The aircraft was safely escorted out of the 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 below.

Temporary flight restrictions are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and shared with pilots through Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs. Both NORAD and the FAA have urged pilots to check those notices before taking off.

The restriction over Geneva was in place as Trump traveled to Ohio aboard Air Force One for the 2026 Patriot Games, a youth athletic tournament that has been heavily backed by the White House and attended by many of the president's supporters.

It was not the only such incident in recent days. Fighter jets were also scrambled over Bedminster, New Jersey, where one of Trump's golf courses is located, after two general aviation planes violated temporary restrictions there on Sunday, NORAD said. Those planes were also safely escorted from the restricted area.

The FAA issues temporary flight restrictions for a variety of reasons, including around large events attended by high-profile political figures, such as the World Cup final in New Jersey last month.