NORAD RESPONDS TO VIOLATIONS OF TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS OVER NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

Photo By Staff Sgt. Taylor Solberg | A South Dakota Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon of the 114th Fighter Wing lands during the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Arctic air defense exercise, Amalgam Dart 21-01, June 15, 2021 at Yellowknife, Northwest Territory, Canada. Exercise Amalgam Dart will run from June 10-19, 2021, with operations ranging across the Arctic from the Beaufort Sea to Thule, Greenland. Amalgam Dart 21-01 provides NORAD the opportunity to hone continental defense skills as Canadian and U.S. forces operate together in the Arctic. A bi-national Canadian and American command, NORAD employs a network of space-based, aerial and ground-based sensors, air-to-air refueling tankers, and fighter aircraft, controlled by a sophisticated command and control network to deter, deny and defeat aerospace threats that originate outside or within our borders. (Continental U.S. NORAD Region photo by Senior Airman Taylor Solberg)  

UNITED STATES

10.05.2025

Story by 2nd Lt. Tyler Turnmire 

CONR-1AF (AFNORTH and AFSPACE)   

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
October 5, 2025

NORAD RESPONDS TO VIOLATIONS OF TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS OVER NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Today the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) responded to four general aviation aircraft that violated NORAD-enforced Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) airspace over Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to two unauthorized incursions that occurred midday Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and required intercepts by NORAD fighter aircraft, two more violations occurred during late-afternoon EDT.

The first civilian aircraft violated the TFR at approximately 11:55 a.m. EDT. NORAD fighter aircraft safely escorted the aircraft until it landed, after the use of flares to draw the pilot’s attention. The second intercepted aircraft violated the TFR at approximately 12: 30 p.m. EDT and was safely escorted out of the area by NORAD fighter aircraft shortly thereafter. Two additional aircraft entered the TFR at 4:15 p.m. EDT and 4:46 p.m. EDT respectively and were monitored by NORAD until landing.

The flares – which may have been visible to the public – are employed with the highest regard for the safety of the intercepted aircraft and people on the ground. Flares burn out quickly and completely and there is no danger to the people on the ground when dispensed.

General aviation pilots are reminded to verify all FAA Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) and TFR procedures must be followed.

Pilots can access the most up-to-date information published by the FAA at https://tfr.faa.gov/.

NORAD employs a layered defense network of radars, satellites, and fighter aircraft to identify and respond to potential threats. The identification and monitoring of the civilian aircraft demonstrate how NORAD executes its aerospace warning and control missions for the United States and Canada.

For more information about General Aviation and TFRs visit https://www.norad.mil/General-Aviation/

• Date Taken: 10.05.2025
• Date Posted: 10.05.2025 19:26
• Story ID: 549951
• Location: US