Report: NORAD Stops Civilian Aircraft Over Texas’ Kerr County

Airspace over the flood-devastated Hill Country area remains closed until Saturday.

Caleb Revill

Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew conducts a pre-flight checks, July 10, 2025, at the Kerrville-Kerr County Airport in Kerrville, Texas. The aircrew was relieved another to maintain a continuous asset presence in the wake of the catastrophic flash flooding near Kerrville. [Credit: U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Carmen Caver]

Key Takeaways:

NORAD intercepted a civilian aircraft illegally flying in restricted airspace over Kerr County, Texas.
The airspace was closed due to ongoing search and rescue operations following catastrophic floods, a restriction that coincided with a visit from President Donald Trump.
This incident was one of several temporary flight restriction (TFR) violations reported in the area since the closure.
The airspace restrictions are scheduled to lift on July 19, with prior coordination required for any flights before then.

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The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has intercepted a civilian aircraft illegally flying over Kerr County, Texas.

According to a report by San Antonio’s KENS-TV, a NORAD fighter jet safely escorted the civilian aircraft out of closed airspace above Kerr County on Wednesday evening.

The intercept is reportedly one of several temporary flight restriction (TFR) violations to occur in the restricted airspace since it was closed on Saturday.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on Saturday stated that pilots shouldn’t operate an aircraft in the Kerr County area during ongoing search and rescue operations following recent catastrophic floods. The NOTAM coincided with a visit from President Donald Trump on Friday.

“My administration is doing everything in its power to help Texas,” Trump said. “We’ve deployed over 400 first responders and assisted or enabled more than 1,500 rescues…Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard have deployed numerous search and rescue crews.”

.@POTUS: "My Administration is doing everything in its power to help Texas… We've deployed over 400 first responders and assisted or enabled more than 1500 rescues… @CBP and the @USCG have deployed numerous search and rescue crews." pic.twitter.com/x2PylbRNsz
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 11, 2025

The airspace restrictions are scheduled to lift on Saturday, July 19. Individuals who want to fly an aircraft or a drone over Kerr County before then must register and coordinate with air-to-ground communication teams beforehand.