President leaves Tahoe on Saturday morning

Traffic was backed up on Highway 395 and the intersection with 50 on Saturday morning as President Biden's motorcade made its way back to the airport after his weeklong vacation at Glenbrook.

The President left the day after two F-16 fighter aircraft and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter responded to a civilian aircraft that violated a temporary flight restriction area near Lake Tahoe on Friday morning.

The civilian aircraft violated the area at about 7:50 a.m. and was escorted out of the area, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

The fighter aircraft dispensed flares – that may have been visible to the public – to gain attention from the pilot. Flares were employed with the highest regard for safety of the intercepted aircraft and people on the ground.

The flares burn out quickly and completely and there is no danger of causing a wildfire or to people on the ground when dispensed.

The command employs a layered defense network of radars, satellites and fighter aircraft to identify aircraft and determine the appropriate response. The identification and monitoring of aircraft demonstrates how it executes its aerospace warning and aerospace control missions for the United States and Canada.

Operation “Noble Eagle” is the name given to all air sovereignty and air defense missions in North America. The command is a bi-national command focused on the defense of both the U.S. and Canada. The response to potential aerospace threats does not distinguish between the two nations and draws on forces from both countries.