President Trump's Marine One helicopter came within 0.8 miles of a passenger jet near Reagan National Airport after air traffic controllers failed to halt commercial departures, according to a report. The FAA and NTSB are investigating how safety rules were violated. Officials insist Trump was never in danger.
A new report published Friday reveals that President Trump's Marine One helicopter came within 0.8 miles of a passenger jet near Reagan National Airport after air traffic controllers failed to heed warnings to halt commercial departures. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have opened investigations into the incident, which occurred despite safety rules imposed after the deadly 2025 midair collision in Washington. Officials insist the President was never in danger.
The incident first came to light Wednesday, when The Zioneer reported a safety incident involving President Trump's helicopter. Later that day, the FAA was reported to be investigating why commercial aircraft were allowed to take off during Marine One's flight, according to a report by Ariel Kahana of Israel Hayom. The New York Times then reported that Marine One departed the White House on Tuesday without explicit clearance from air traffic controllers and came within 1.3 km horizontally and 213 meters vertically of a commercial aircraft, due to communication failures. The new report adds that the control tower missed warnings about the takeoff, raising questions about the enforcement of safety protocols.
The incident occurs amid heightened security concerns around President Trump. As The Zioneer reported on August 5, a suspect was arrested in California in connection with an alleged assassination plot at a Trump golf course. The close call near Reagan National Airport, which is subject to special safety rules after the 2025 midair collision, has drawn scrutiny to air traffic control procedures.
It remains unclear whether any personnel have been suspended or what specific communication failures led to the tower missing the warnings. The FAA and NTSB have not yet released findings. Officials have not commented on whether the incident will lead to changes in protocol.
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