NORAD sends fighter plane after latest unauthorized flight over Kerrville floods

KERRVILLE, Texas – After the deadly Texas floods earlier this month, the FAA moved quickly to restrict the airspace in the area so that first responders searching for victims would not be hampered by drones, news helicopters, and other craft. 

But NORAD, the military division charged with keeping America’s airspace, says that they had to send a fighter plane to the skies over Texas after civilian aircraft repeatedly violated a temporary no-fly zone.

What we know:

The Air Force issued a press release stating that an unspecified civilian aircraft was intercepted for violating the no-fly zone and safely escorted out of the area “by NORAD fighter aircraft” Friday afternoon.

“This intercept, combined with yet another TFR violation, has resulted in a total of five unauthorized incursions into restricted airspace,” the statement continued.

What we don’t know:

It’s not clear what type of aircraft violation prompted the military intervention, what that craft’s mission was, or what consequences – if any – that pilot may be facing.

It’s also not clear what specific fighter jet was sent to perform the interception, though the press release originated from Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, which is home to F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning IIs.

Neither NORAD nor the FAA answered requests from FOX Television Stations for more information.

What is a TFR?

Dig deeper:

“TFR” stands for “temporary flight restriction,” which is an order from the FAA that generally restricts non-governmental flights in a small area. They are usually issued for special events or security situations; presidential travel is one of the most common reasons.

A collision between a privately-owned drone and a rescue helicopter over Kerrville back on July 7 highlighted the need for such orders. The collision forced the helicopter to make an emergency landing and took it out of service. A similar incident grounded a critical firefighting aircraft during the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year.

What you can do:

Private pilots and drone operators should know to check the FAA’s website for NOTAMs – “notices to airmen” that warn about TFRs and other hazards – before they take to the skies. A map of current TFRs is also available.

Texas flooding latest

The backstory:

Catastrophically heavy rain led to deadly flooding along the Guadalupe River early on July 4. Campsites and communities were swept away; more than 170 people are still considered missing while at least 132 – including dozens of children – are dead.

Rain returned to the area around Kerrville on Sunday, pausing efforts to find more victims. Some volunteers were asked to evacuate for their own safety amid the renewed threat of flooding.

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