F-16s intercept plane flying too close to Trump rally in Arizona
NORAD dispatched fighter jets launched signal flares
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The U.S. Air Force intercepted an unknown aircraft flying too close to President Trump's campaign rally in Arizona Wednesday.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said it dispatched F-16s, a type of fighter aircraft, and launched signal flares before establishing radio contact and escorting the plane out of restricted airspace "without further incident."
TRUMP IN ARIZONA: 'WE DON'T HAVE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. WE HAVE SUPPRESSION OF THE PRESS'
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NORAD said the general aviation aircraft was not in communication with Air Traffic Controls and entered the Temporary Flight Restriction area surrounding Bullhead City, AZ without proper clearance around 2 p.m. The aircraft was not initially responsive to intercept procedures, they added.
Trump, who addressed a crowd of supporters in the battleground state just six days before the election, saw the flares and pointed at the sky.
PRESIDENT TRUMP PITCHES NEVADA VOTERS FROM ARIZONA AFTER RALLY-RELATED FINES
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"Oh, look at that. Look, look, look," Trump said, pointing at the sky. "Look at that. They gave the president a little display." The crowd then chanted "USA, USA, USA!"
Trump then weaved the incident into his monologue, telling the crowd the plane is a fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. He then asked rhetorically, "You know how hard it is to get Democrats to pay for that?"
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Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.