On Friday, August 25, 2023, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to intercept a civilian aircraft that had entered temporarily restricted airspace near Lake Tahoe, where President Joe Biden and Jill Biden were vacationing.
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The crews of the two F-16s fired flares to catch the attention of the pilot of the civilian craft and escorted it out of the restricted airspace without further incident. A Coast Guard helicopter also took part in the intercept, which happened Friday morning West Coast time. No information about the civilian aircraft or its pilot was released.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, that the incursion was “not of protective interest” and had no impact on Secret Service operations. White House principal deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton added there also was no impact on the president. Biden is due to fly back to Washington on Saturday after a week of vacation with his family in California’s Lake Tahoe region.
This incident highlights the importance of adhering to temporary flight restrictions and the quick response of NORAD in ensuring the safety of those in the air and on the ground. It serves as a reminder to all pilots to be aware of their surroundings and to follow all flight regulations.