A civilian pilot received a jarring wake-up call Saturday afternoon when North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) F-16 fighter jets scrambled to intercept their aircraft, deploying signal flares to force the plane out of restricted airspace.
The encounter occurred at approximately 4:20 p.m. EST after the aircraft breached a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over Palm Beach. According to NORAD officials, the fighter jets escorted the violator safely out of the zone using standard intercept procedures.
Residents on the ground may have spotted the flares used during the intercept. Military officials explained that the fighter jets dispensed the countermeasures to grab the pilot’s attention and establish communication…