US Air Force (USAF) F-16 CJ Fighting Falcon, 20th Fighter Wing (FW) wing ship, Shaw Air Force Base (AFB), South Carolina (SC), over New York during a North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Operation NOBLE EAGLE mission. The Falcon is armed with AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, and equipped with 370-gal fuel tanks. Central Park is visible below the aircraft.

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US Air Force F-16 intercepts plane over New-York during UN Assembly meeting

Per Second NewsSeptember 23, 20211 Mins read1.8k

A U.S Air Force F-16 intercepted a small aircraft over New York City on Wednesday, after the aircraft violated a temporary flight restriction put in place for the United Nations General Assembly, according to the country’s North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

The interception was spotted by civilians in Manhattan near the George Washington Bridge, according to multiple news outlet in New York. The incident comes just weeks after the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The strayed aircraft was flown by an Army instructor pilot from the US Military Academy, Per Second News gathered. The instructor was conducting a cadet flight lab when the plane “briefly” violated the restricted airspace, the academy said.

The plane was escorted out of the restricted area without any incident on Wednesday afternoon.