Small Plane Violates Flight Restriction Over Kananaskis Village

The pilot of a small aircraft was intercepted by CF-18 Hornets after flying into a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the annual G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. The fighters had to fire flares to get the pilot’s attention, because somehow the jet engines weren’t noticeable enough on their own.

According to NORAD, a fixed-wing aircraft violated the restricted CYR 292 airspace over Kananaskis at about 11:05 am, triggering the deployment of CF-18 Hornet fighter jets.

The restricted area, which spans a 30-nautical-mile radius around Kananaskis Village, was clearly designated as off-limits due to the summit. The event brought together global leaders from the US, Canada, Germany, and others to discuss world affairs. So, naturally, NORAD wasn't thrilled to see an unresponsive aircraft drifting through.

After repeated failed attempts to contact the pilot, NORAD switched to "final warning measures.” Whatever that involved worked: the pilot eventually noticed the jets and safely landed the aircraft under its own power. No damage, no crashes, just one surprised pilot now facing an RCMP-led investigation.

The RCMP made it clear this wasn’t just an “oops.” In a statement, they explained that incidents like this divert critical resources from actually securing the summit and protecting international dignitaries.

The temporary flight restrictions, in place since June 14, remain active through June 17. In addition to CYR 292, the nearby CYR 293 zone protects Calgary International Airport and Springbank, further limiting civilian air traffic.

No other details about the pilot or aircraft have been released. The investigation is ongoing, and officials aren’t saying much more, though one can imagine the post-landing conversation with authorities wasn’t a pleasant one.

FMI: www.norad.mil