Chicago-area residents see fighter jets Sunday, multiple planes intercepted – NBC 5 Chicago

Chicago-area residents see fighter jets Sunday, multiple planes intercepted  NBC 5 Chicago

At least 10 planes were intercepted by fighter jets over the Chicago area Sunday for violating a temporary flight restriction. Security is tight at west suburban Medinah County Club as President Trump is expected to make an appearance at the Presidents Cup golf tournament. Vi Nguyen reports. That restriction was imposed by the FAA and enforced by military aircraft from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), according to officials, and was in place during President Donald Trump’s visit to Medinah Country Club for the final day of the Presidents Cup Sunday. Residents in numerous suburbs saw fighter jets in the skies overhead during the president’s visit to the area, and according to NORAD officials, the planes ended up intercepting numerous civilian aircraft while the flight restrictions were in place.

According to NORAD, at least 15 aircraft violated the temporary flight restrictions over the area, and in 10 of those instances, fighter jets performed intercepts to gain the attention of the pilots. In two of those intercepts, the NORAD jets used flares to get the pilots’ attention, though the department says the flares burn out quickly and pose no danger to the public. Officials said all situations were “resolved safely,” and no further information was available. Serving as honorary chairman of the tournament, Trump visited Medinah in the northwest suburbs