Four GA Airplanes Apparently Violated A Presidential TFR

F-15C fighter jets under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command intercepted four separate general aviation aircraft in the vicinity of San Jose, CA Monday.

The TFR was in place because of the presence of President Obama at a town hall meeting in Mountain View, CA. The Hill reports that the event was sponsored by the business-focused social networking site LinkedIn.

In its official statement, NORAD says that in each incident, the civilian aircraft, which entered the Temporary Flight Restricted area, were intercepted and then departed the area without incident.

One of those was apparently a 1942 Stearman biplane registered to John Bernard of San Francisco, but co-owned with another pilot who was not identified. The Santa Cruz Sentinal reports that the Stearman was circled by the NORAD F-15 before it returned immediately to Watsonville airport (KWVI). Bernard told the paper he didn't know anything about the flight, and the other owner was reportedly unreachable.

NORAD said the F-15 was "on station" when it was alerted of the TFR violation.

FMI: www.norad.mil