Fighter jets intercept civilian plane over Geneva, Ohio
F-16 fighter jets intercepted a civilian plane that violated a temporary flight restriction over Geneva, Ohio, where President Trump attended the 2026 Patriot Games.
Updated on: August 12, 2026 / 8:16 AM EDT / CBS News
Fighter jets intercepted a civilian plane that was flying through restricted airspace Tuesday over Geneva, Ohio, where President Trump was attending a teen athletic event, military officials said.
F-16 jets dispensed flares to catch the attention of the pilot during their encounter, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, which monitors U.S. and Canadian airspace.
The interception took place at around 6:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, said NORAD, as the civilian plane violated a temporary flight restriction over the area. It was safely escorted from the airspace after flares were deployed.
"Flares are employed with the highest regard for safety, burn out quickly and completely, and pose no danger to people on the ground," said NORAD officials, who said the flares may have been visible to people on the ground.
Temporary flight restrictions are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and shared with pilots through Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs. Both NORAD and the FAA have encouraged pilots to check those notices prior to taking off.