The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a safety incident involving President Donald Trump's helicopter and a commercial jet.
The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing a safety incident where the military helicopter carrying President Donald Trump was briefly too close to a commercial jet departing from Reagan Washington National Airport. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon as Marine One took off from the White House Ellipse. While the aircraft were briefly separated by less than the required 1.5 miles horizontally and 500 feet vertically, the administration announced that President Donald Trump was never in danger. This review follows a January 2025 collision between an Army helicopter and a commercial jet that killed 67 people, which led the FAA to impose restrictions on mixed helicopter and jet traffic. Air traffic control is typically given three minutes of advance notice before Marine One departs to ensure the airspace is clear. However, during this incident, the commercial jet was allowed to depart while the Marine One helicopter was nearby. The FAA is currently collecting information to determine if a formal investigation will be opened by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Sources
-
FAA Reviewing Why Marine One Was Too Close to Commercial Jet
Forbes
-
FAA investigating after passenger plane taking off got too close to Trump’s Marine One helicopter
CNN
-
Trump was on Marine One when it was involved in an ‘air-safety incident’ above DC skies, FAA says
The Independent
-
FAA says Marine One was briefly too close to passenger airplane
CNBC