United States Air Force fighter jets will be “protecting the skies” during the Republican National Convention, the U.S. Northern Command announced today.
“Air Force fighter jets will be on alert during the convention — which begins today and runs through Aug. 30 — enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration’s temporary flight restriction zone,” the announcement says.
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Such patrols have taken place since the September 11 terrorist attacks. “As a part of this air defense shield, we routinely protect the skies over special security events like this year’s Republican National Convention,” Air Force Col. Randy Spear, the 601st Air and Space Operations Center commander, said in a statement per the Armed Forces Press Service.
Last week, the Air Force and Coast Guard practiced similar anti-terrorism drills above the nation’s capital.
“One of the reasons we put out notice of the exercise is so that anyone seeing a military aircraft in close proximity to a civilian aircraft will know that this is a controlled and carefully planned NORAD live exercise,” explained North American Aerospace Defense Command spokesman John Cornelio.
