25-11-2024 01:17 PM Jerusalem Timing

Two Planes Spark F-15 Scramble during Obama Visit

Two Planes Spark F-15 Scramble during Obama Visit

An F-15 fighter jet was scrambled on two separate occasions Saturday to intercept two single-engine planes that violated a flight ban imposed for President Barack Obama’s visit to his hometown of Chicago.

F 15An F-15 fighter jet was scrambled on two separate occasions Saturday to intercept two single-engine planes that violated a flight ban imposed for President Barack Obama's visit to his hometown of Chicago, officials said.

Both small aircraft were intercepted "in the vicinity of Chicago," the first at approximately 10:30 am (1430 GMT) and the second at about 4:45 pm (2045 GMT), North American Aerospace Defense Command said in a statement.

Both planes were escorted out of the restricted area without further incident, NORAD said.

No details were given about the make of the first aircraft. The second was a Cessna 172.

Obama was in Chicago to spend the weekend there with his family and to attend the wedding of the daughter of Valerie Jarrett, one of his senior advisers.