FlightFollowerF-16 Head-Butts Wayward Cessna 03 Times During Presidential Airspace Intercept
On October 14, 2022, a Cessna 182P Skylane, N58960, entered a Temporary Flight Restriction over Southern California while President Joe Biden was attending an event at Irvine Valley College.
The Cessna entered the restricted area at approximately 3:10 p.m. Pacific time. A NORAD F-16 intercepted the aircraft and attempted to establish communication. The fighter pilot also used visual signals in an effort to make the civilian pilot respond.
The lack of an immediate response increased concern because the fighter crew could not tell whether the Cessna pilot was aware of the interception. The F-16 used flares and made three close headbutt manoeuvres. These manoeuvres involve the fighter crossing in front of the intercepted aircraft to attract the pilot's attention and signal that the aircraft must follow.
The Cessna remained in the restricted area for only several minutes before communication was established with air traffic control. The aircraft then continued to Chino, California, where it landed safely at about 3:24 p.m.
The incident caused no reported injuries or damage. The presidential event continued without interruption.
Why the intercept escalated
NORAD's air-defense mission treats an aircraft that enters a presidential TFR and does not respond to communication as a potential security concern until its intentions can be established. The objective of the intercept is therefore not automatically to treat the aircraft as hostile; it is to establish control of the situation and obtain a response.
The three close passes were part of that escalation. Radio calls and visual signals came first, followed by more direct manoeuvring when the civilian pilot did not respond. Once communication was restored and the Cessna could be escorted toward a normal landing, the immediate security concern ended.
Accident Facts
- Date
- October 14, 2022
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P Skylane / Cessna 182P
- Registration
- N58960
- Location
- Southern California TFR
- Category
- Intercept, Medical, Hijack / Security
Sources
NORAD/CONR background on presidential TFR intercepts — https://www.1af.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4148938/norad-intercepts-aircraft-violating-temporary-flight-restrictions-over-palm-bea/
The War Zone, October 20, 2022 — https://www.twz.com/f-16-head-butted-wayward-cessna-three-times-during-presidential-air-defense-mission
the associated record — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC1_NBHZm5A