PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - An F-16 fighter under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command intercepted a general aviation aircraft northwest of Los Angeles at approximately 4:50 pm today, PDT.
The fighter responded to a temporary flight restriction violation by a single engine Cessna aircraft. After intercepting the aircraft, the F-16 followed it until it landed without incident, at approximately 4:58 pm PDT where the plane was met by local law enforcement.
NORAD's mission – in close collaboration with homeland defense, security, and law enforcement partners – is to prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America. NORAD may be required to monitor, shadow, divert from flight path, direct to land and/or destroy platforms deemed a potential threat to North America.