NEW YORK, July 18. On Friday, U.S. F-16 fighter jets intercepted an aircraft after it violated temporary flight restrictions over New York and New Jersey ahead of the FIFA World Cup final, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
“NORAD F-16 fighter jets intercepted a general aviation aircraft on July 17, 2026, at approximately 4:18 PM EDT (20:18 GMT) over New York City that violated a temporary flight restriction (TFR) established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),” NORAD said in its statement. “The aircraft was safely escorted out of the area,” it added.
The command previously stated that the restrictions would remain in effect from July 17 to July 19, when Argentina and Spain will compete in the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday.
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