Trump at Fort Bragg | Fighter jet intercepts private plane in airspace near Air Force One

ERWIN, N.C. (WTVD) — A civilian aircraft was intercepted Friday afternoon as Air Force One sat on the tarmac waiting for departure from Pope Army Airfield.

The incident happened while President Donald Trump was at Fort Bragg.

According to the Harnett Regional Jetport director, a Baron twin-engine plane went into the 30-mile Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) zone.

The small plane was flying from Moore County and was en route to Johnston County Regional Airport.

According to the director, the pilot did not file a flight plan and had to be intercepted by an F-16 fighter jet.

North American Aerospace Defense Command said the plane entered the restricted airspace at 3:35 p.m.

During the interception, the pilot of the fighter jet deployed flares to draw attention to the violation, NORAD said.

That’s when the pilot of the small craft was forced to land at Harnett Regional.

The pilot later flew the plane to Southern Pines, according to the director.

“NORAD employs a layered defense network of radars, satellites, and fighter aircraft to identify and respond to potential threats,” the entity said in a release.

Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App