A NORAD fighter jet intercepted an aircraft that violated restricted airspace over Camp David on Saturday while President Trump was staying at the Maryland retreat.
The First Air Force, part of US Northern Command, disclosed the incident in a post on X. Trump, 78, had arrived at the presidential compound in the Catoctin Mountains on Friday night and was scheduled to remain there through the weekend.
“Pilots! @NORADCommand fighter aircraft intercepted an aircraft violating restricted airspace over Thurmont, MD, resulting in flares being deployed,” the military account wrote.
The post added a direct warning to aviators: “Make sure to check NOTAMs before takeoff to ensure you have current information about TFRs in your area.”
The reference to NOTAMs, or Notices to Airmen, points to the standard system pilots use to stay informed about temporary flight restrictions. TFRs, or Temporary Flight Restrictions, are routinely established over locations where the president is present, creating a no-fly zone that extends outward from the protected site.
Camp David, the secluded presidential retreat near Thurmont, Maryland, has operated under heightened security protocols for decades. The facility sits roughly 70 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., and has served as a getaway for presidents since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration.
The use of flares during the intercept suggests the fighter aircraft took visible measures to signal the intruding plane. Military pilots typically deploy such countermeasures to attract attention and communicate urgency when radio contact fails or when a visual warning is deemed necessary.
The incident caused a brief stir given Trump’s presence on the ground. Presidential travel automatically triggers some of the most restrictive airspace designations in the country, and violations, even inadvertent ones, routinely prompt rapid military response.
Saturday’s interception follows a long pattern of similar incidents near presidential locations. NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, maintains continuous alert status for airspace violations across the United States and Canada, with fighter jets positioned at bases throughout both nations for quick reaction.
The military’s decision to publicize the episode on social media reflects a broader practice of using platforms like X to disseminate operational updates directly to the public and to the aviation community.
Trump’s weekend at Camp David came without any announced public events, suggesting a private stay at the heavily fortified compound.