An inquiry is ongoing to determine why a commercial jet was cleared for takeoff as the helicopter carrying US President Donald Trump was approaching.
The incident occurred as Marine Forces One was nearing Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday, August 4. This was seen as a breach of safety protocols implemented following a mid-air collision near the airport last year.
Both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed on Wednesday that they were looking into the circumstances surrounding the jet’s departure coinciding with the departure of the helicopter carrying the president.
After a tragic incident on January 29, 2025, where 67 individuals lost their lives in an airliner collision with an Army Black Hawk helicopter, the FAA mandated a halt on all takeoffs and landings at Washington, DC airport whenever a helicopter is on a conflicting route.
The airspace surrounding the White House and Reagan airport experiences high traffic from military and commercial aircraft.
Although the airplane in question ascended above Marine One as the helicopter was approaching, there was no risk of a collision between the two aircraft.
The FAA reported a temporary loss of separation between the aircraft, but they continued to move away from each other after the incident.
The White House assured that President Trump was never in jeopardy, emphasizing the expertise of Marine One pilots in ensuring safety during flights.
The Marine Corps stood by the actions of their helicopter pilots, with past issues of communication challenges between military and civilian air traffic controllers at Reagan airport being highlighted.
