Drone Incident Near Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport Prompts Security Scare and Ground Stop
A recent drone incident near Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) caused a security scare, prompting a ground stop and the dispatch of helicopters to investigate. The incident, captured in a video shared on social media, shows a Delta Air Lines pilot informing passengers about the security breach in the airport's restricted airspace. The presence of a drone too close to the airport led to a temporary halt in taxiing and departures to allow law enforcement to secure the area.
President Donald Trump, who was scheduled to depart from PBI to the White House, had not taken off yet and was golfing at his West Palm Beach golf club during the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration's National Airspace System Status reported an hour-long departure delay at PBI due to volume but did not directly address the ground stop. As of now, there has been no formal statement released by the FAA or Palm Beach International Airport regarding the incident.
In conclusion, the drone scare near Air Force One at PBI resulted in a temporary ground stop and the deployment of helicopters to investigate the security breach in the airport's restricted airspace. President Trump, who was scheduled to depart from PBI, had not taken off at the time of the incident. The FAA's National Airspace System Status reported a departure delay at PBI, but no official statement has been released by the FAA or the airport regarding the incident.