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The North American Aerospace Defense Command said “multiple” general aviation planes violated temporary flight restrictions over President Donald Trump’s New Jersey club on June 20-21.Trump visited his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster ahead of U.S. airstrikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran.The Federal Aviation Administration issues temporary flight restrictions each time Trump travels within the U.S.
There was confusion in the airspace over President Donald Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club on recent days, similar to issues experienced over Palm Beach County in the vicinity of his Mar-a-Lago Club during the early weeks of Trump’s second term.
The Federal Aviation Administration had issued temporary flight restrictions ahead of Trump’s expected arrival in New Jersey on June 20. The restrictions were in effect through June 21, according to FAA notices.
The first day, “multiple general aviation aircraft” violated the restricted airspace over Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, according to a North American Aerospace Defense Command news release.
A spokesperson for the 601st Air Operations Center of the U.S. Air Force — which plans, directs and assesses air operations for NORAD — confirmed that five planes violated the flight restrictions on June 20, and NORAD responded to another three violations on June 21, one which prompted a fighter jet to intercept the airplane.
Since Trump took office in January, there have been 12 temporary flight restriction violations in the airspace over Bedminster, the spokesperson said.
“Our layered defense network, which includes radar, satellites, and fighter aircraft, allows us to quickly identify and respond to any potential threats,” the spokesperson said in an emailed response to Daily News questions. “NORAD maintains aircraft on alert across the country, ready to address any situation, and routinely secures airspace over TFRs, including the VIP TFR that was active over Bedminster, New Jersey. We consistently remind pilots to diligently verify all FAA NOTAMs, particularly in areas like Bedminster, N.J., and Mar-A-Lago, FL.”
There were similar violations in the airspace over Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach following his Jan. 20 inauguration. Trump’s visits to his properties trigger the temporary flight restrictions that direct how aircraft can operate over certain areas.
From Jan. 20 to early March, more than two dozen general aviation pilots violated the Palm Beach temporary flight restrictions, prompting stern words from Gen. Gregory Guillot, NORAD and U.S. Northern Command commander, in a news release at the time.
“The procedures are not optional, and the excessive number of recent TFR violations indicates many civil aviators are not reading Notice to Airmen, or NOTAMs, before each flight as required by the FAA, and has resulted in multiple responses by NORAD fighter aircraft to guide offending aircraft out of the TFR,” he said.
Flight restrictions may be issued for firefighting or rescue operations; security purposes, including to protect the president, vice president and dignitaries; safety reasons like gas spills or volcanic eruptions; space operations; and national defense, according to the FAA.
The “VIP movement” flight restrictions issued for Trump’s travels include two rings of protection.
The inner ring is a 10-nautical-mile radius where most flights are banned with the exception of approved flights, and regularly scheduled cargo and commercial passenger jets, according to FAA advisories. More movement is allowed with the 30-nm radius area, or outer ring, of the temporary flight restrictions. Aircraft can pass through but “not loiter,” FAA advisories say. All aircraft that do pass through the outer ring must have a specific flight plan filed with air traffic control, the FAA says.
Trump arrived in Bedminster late on June 20 and returned to the White House June 21 ahead of his announcement that night that U.S. B-2 warplanes dropped powerful bombs known as bunker busters on key nuclear sites in Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz in Iran.
While Trump favors Mar-a-Lago, which is his permanent residence, he spends more time at his New Jersey club during Palm Beach’s off-season, when Mar-a-Lago’s club is closed.
Ahead of his expected summer travels to Bedminster, the FAA in April posted a reminder to pilots to check for Notice to Airmen, or NOTAMs.
“Bedminster TFRs can and do change quickly, and always impact many airports in NJ, PA and NY,” the FAA said in the reminder.
The FAA also posted a PDF with “operational tips, best practices, and recommendations for operating safely and efficiently in the Bedminster TFR.”
Trump is expected to return to Bedminster from June 27-29, according to a VIP movement notification posted by the FAA Safety Team to caution pilots that temporary flight restrictions will be issued for the area.
Trump National Golf Club is in the township of Bedminster, which as of the 2020 U.S. Census had a population of 8,272 people. Bedminster is about 39 miles from New York City, and about 216 miles from Washington, D.C.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism.
