Military Jets Escort Planes To Monmouth Airport Away From UN Airspace

U.S. military fighter jets have been buzzing over the New York City region, chasing at least three small planes that violated restricted airspace over the United Nations and had to be escorted away with one plane landing at Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall Township.

A spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command says there were at least three incidents within about 90 minutes Monday afternoon, triggering calls and chatter on social media.

The tweets started around 4:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon according to NewsWorks. The loudest noises seems to be in the Tinton Falls and Red Bank area. "It was loud as hell in Red Bank. Never heard anything like it," wrote Michael Madigan.

The spokesman, John Cornelio, said F-16 fighters intercepted all three small planes and escorted them away to area airports where they were met and checked by law enforcement. He said there appeared to be no terrorism concerns.

The Star-Ledger says the pilot of the single-engine Diamond (D40) was interviewed and released. No arrests were made. Four officers from the hMonmouth County Sheriff’s Office, the Secret Service and a K9 unit were among those meeting the plane.

Another plane was intercepted 20 miles east of Kennedy airport and was escorted to Bay Bridge Airport in Maryland. The third was intercepted 20 miles west of Newark, but where it landed was unknown.

A swath of airspace around New York City has been restricted due to the ongoing United Nations General Assembly, which President Barack Obama is attending.

On  their website the NORAD said all three planes were "out of communication."

The Associated Press contributed to this report