F-16 Fighter Jets Deployed To Intercept Unreceptive Aircraft Over Trump Rally!

The Hill came through with more details:

Air Force F-16 fighter jets had to intercept an unresponsive aircraft flying over a Trump campaign rally in Bullhead City, Ariz., on Wednesday afternoon, the Pentagon confirmed.

The incident, which was caught on video as President Trump spoke to supporters, at first appeared to be a military flyover as an F-16 fired flares to ward off the other aircraft.

“Oh, look at that. Look, look, look,” Trump said, pointing at the white stream left by the flares. “Look at that. They gave the president a little display.”

But the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) later said in a statement that it directed the F-16 fighters to intercept the unidentified plane after it entered restricted airspace surrounding the rally and could not be contacted.

“The violating aircraft was non-responsive to initial intercept procedures, but established radio communications after NORAD aircraft deployed signal flares,” it said.

The violating aircraft was then “escorted out of the restricted area by the NORAD aircraft without further incident.”

Overnight Defense: Trump campaign's use of military helicopter raises...
Trump fights for battleground Arizona
No other details were given as to what type of aircraft violated the airspace or why they were flying in the area.

At the time of the incident, which took place approximately 25 minutes into the rally, Trump mistakenly told the crowd the aircraft were “four days old” F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters.

The Washington Times had more:

A U.S. fighter jet intercepted a civilian aircraft that entered restricted airspace during President Trump’s campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Wednesday, according to Pentagon officials.

The plane initially was non-responsive but eventually established communication with the military after North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) deployed signal flares.

“At approx. 1400 MDT, NORAD F-16 aircraft investigated a general aviation aircraft that was not in communication with [air traffic control] and entered the Temporary Flight Restriction area surrounding Bullhead City, AZ without proper clearance,” NORAD said in a Twitter post Wednesday evening. “The violating aircraft was non-responsive to initial intercept procedures, but established radio communications after NORAD aircraft deployed signal flares. The aircraft was escorted out of the restricted area by the NORAD aircraft without further incident.”

Airspace around a presidential event is highly restricted.

While the planes reportedly weren’t visible from the ground, Mr. Trump clearly heard it during his speech.

“I love that sound,” the president said, adding that he fought with Democrats to secure additional funding for the Pentagon.

Even Fake-News CNN reported it:

From CNN:

An aircraft entered restricted air space over President Donald Trump's rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Wednesday, leading to a fighter jet being scrambled to intercept it.

John Cornelio, a spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), said in a statement to CNN that an F-16 aircraft was sent Wednesday afternoon to investigate a small airplane that had entered the air space above the President's rally.

"The violating aircraft was non-responsive to initial intercept procedures, but established radio communications after NORAD aircraft deployed signal flares," Cornelio said. "The violating aircraft was escorted out of the restricted area by the NORAD aircraft without further incident."

Trump's rally in Arizona came as part of a final sprint of campaign events leading up to Election Day to shore up states he won four years ago. Arizona is seeing increasing numbers of coronavirus cases per day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Many rallygoers on Wednesday were seen wearing masks, but not social distancing.

The emergence of Arizona -- where both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's running mate Kamala Harris were slated to travel on Wednesday -- as a swing state could throw a major wrench into Trump's electoral hopes and provide a big lifeline to Biden.

The smaller aircraft was not visible to CNN reporters on the ground in Arizona but the fighter jet could be heard overhead, leading to a reaction from the rally crowd and the President himself.

Trump, apparently caught off-guard by jet above, said that the plane was "about four days old" and touted his funding for the military.

"I love that sound, I love it," Trump said at the sound of aircraft engines. "You don't know what I went through to get those suckers up there -- I had to get that money from the Democrats."

He said the jet was "trying to show off" for him and called the flares being deployed "a little display" for the President.