NORAD scrambles F-16s to intercept planes near Pres. Obama

Posted: Feb 17, 2013 10:55 AM by Matt Stafford
Updated: Feb 17, 2013 6:34 PM

NORAD has intercepted multiple airplanes over the weekend that have entered a no-fly-zone near President Obama.

President Obama is vacationing along Florida's Treasure Coast for the President's Day weekend; he's spending the weekend with some friends at the Floridian, a secluded yacht and golf club.

Sunday morning an F-16 had to be dispatched to intercept a plane entering the restricted area around 9:30 (EST). A Cessna general aviation aircraft, as it was described in a press release, had entered the Federal Aviation Administration's Temporary Flight Restricted Area near Palm City. The plane was escorted to Okeechobee Airport where local authorities were waiting.

At least two planes had to be turned away the day before. A different Cessna was escorted away from the no-fly-zone around noon (EST). Officials are still investigating whether that plane actually entered the restricted area. Also, around 5 p.m. (EST) Saturday NORAD intercepted a Lance Air 320 entering the restricted area. That plane was escorted out and continued to its destination.

NORAD, or North American Aerospace Defense Command, is stationed at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. NORAD's mission, according to their release, is, "to prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America."

There's no word right now if any of the pilots will face charges.