NORAD Air Defense Exercise Over RivCo Planned Tuesday

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A live air defense exercise was scheduled to fly over Riverside Tuesday, a North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) spokesperson said.

"F-16s and general aviation aircraft from the Civil Air Patrol will participate in the exercise," according to a NORAD news release.

They said the aircraft would operate at approximately 8,500 feet and would likely be visible to the public. However, no specific time or flight path for the flyover was immediately shared. All were part of Operation NOBLE EAGLE, which began after 9/11.

"Operation NOBLE EAGLE is the name given to air sovereignty and air defense missions in North America. For more than 65 years, NORAD aircraft have identified and intercepted potential air threats to North America in the execution of the command’s aerospace warning and aerospace control missions."

"NORAD routinely conducts air defense exercises using a variety of scenarios, including airspace restriction violations, hijackings, and responding to unknown aircraft to test responses, systems, and equipment," according to the release. "All NORAD exercises are carefully planned and are closely controlled.

"The defense of Canada and the United States is NORAD’s top priority."

There was no known impact to Inland Empire airports as a result of this exercise, according to the FAA.