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(CNN) — An aircraft entered restricted airspace during US President Donald Trump’s rally Wednesday in Bullhead City, Arizona, prompting a fighter jet to rush to intercept it.
John Cornelio, a spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), said in a statement to CNN that an F-16 aircraft was dispatched Wednesday afternoon to investigate a small plane that had entered the airspace above it. President’s rally.
“The offending aircraft did not respond to the initial interception procedures, but established radio communications after the NORAD aircraft deployed signal flares,” Cornelio said.
“The offending aircraft was escorted out of the restricted area by the NORAD aircraft without further incident.”
Trump’s rally in Arizona was part of a final sprint of campaign events leading up to Election Day to prop up the states he won four years ago.
The smaller plane was not visible to CNN reporters on the ground in Arizona, but the fighter jet could be heard overhead, prompting a reaction from the crowd and the president himself.
Plane surprises Trump
Trump, apparently surprised by the plane overhead, said it was “about four days old” and touted its funding for the military.
“I love that sound, I love it,” Trump said at the sound of airplane engines.
“You don’t know what I went through to put those fools up there, I had to get that money from the Democrats.”
He said the plane was “trying to show off” for him and that the flares that were being deployed were “a little display” for the president.
US Secret Service agents also reacted to the plane’s unexpected presence during the rally and some moved quickly toward the president, though they never took the stage.
The crowd cheered when the plane could be heard overhead, chanting “USA.” while a man shouted, “That is the sound of freedom!”
CNN’s Stephen Collinson and Harry Enten contributed to this report.
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