BEDMINSTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — A fighter aircraft under the command of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) intercepted a general aviation plane Saturday afternoon after it violated restricted airspace over Bedminster Township, officials said.
The intercept occurred at approximately 2:39 p.m., following three prior violations of the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in the same area earlier in the day. A fifth violation occurred later, bringing the total number of incursions to five.
According to NORAD, the fighter jet performed a “headbutt maneuver” — a standard procedure to safely gain the attention of a non-responsive pilot — and successfully escorted the civilian aircraft out of the restricted zone without further incident.
General aviation pilots are being urged to review all relevant Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) prior to flight, particularly NOTAMs 1353, 1358, 2246 and 2247, which apply to the Bedminster region.
Pilots can access the latest airspace updates at https://tfr.faa.gov.
NORAD uses an integrated system of radar, satellites, and fighter aircraft to monitor and respond to potential threats to U.S. and Canadian airspace. Saturday’s interception reflects NORAD’s commitment to aerospace warning and control, the agency said in a statement.
