GENEVA, OHIO — F-16 fighter jets intercepted a civilian plane that violated a temporary flight restriction over Geneva, Ohio. The interception occurred at approximately 6:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

The F-16 jets dispensed flares to catch the attention of the pilot during the encounter. The civilian plane was safely escorted from the restricted airspace after the flares were deployed. News.com, the civilian pilot of the aircraft that violated the temporary flight restrictions over Geneva, Ohio, was directly affected when F-16 fighter jets intercepted the plane and deployed flares to attract their attention.

"Flares are employed with the highest regard for safety, burn out quickly and completely, and pose no danger to people on the ground," NORAD officials said in an official statement. President Donald Trump was attending the 2026 Patriot Games, a youth athletic tournament, in Geneva, Ohio at the time of the incident. Temporary flight restrictions over Geneva were issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. News.com, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues temporary flight restrictions for a variety of reasons, including around large events attended by high-profile political figures, like the World Cup final in New Jersey last month.

The Patriot Games event was held at Spire Academy in Ashtabula County. The Patriot Games is organized by the Freedom 250 committee. Two general aviation planes violated temporary flight restrictions over Bedminster, New Jersey, on Sunday.

NORAD jets intercepted the two planes that violated restrictions over Bedminster, New Jersey. The planes intercepted over Bedminster were safely escorted from the restricted area. President Donald Trump was in attendance at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, when the airspace breaches occurred on Sunday.com, on July 19, NORAD F-16s intercepted three aircraft in a single day after more than 10 planes entered restricted airspace around Bedminster, New Jersey, where President Trump was visiting his golf course.