According to the FAA's preliminary findings, the commercial aircraft took off while Marine One was approaching the airport.
Washington: US aviation authorities have launched an investigation after a commercial passenger jet departed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport while President Donald Trump's helicopter, Marine One, was approaching the airport, raising questions over compliance with safety procedures introduced after last year's fatal midair collision.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Wednesday they were examining the incident, which occurred on Tuesday as Marine One departed the White House for Andrews Air Force Base with Trump aboard before the first leg of his West Coast trip.
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Following the January 29, 2025 collision between a passenger aircraft and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people, the FAA introduced stricter rules requiring all takeoffs and landings at Reagan National Airport to be suspended whenever helicopters operate along conflicting flight paths.
According to the FAA's preliminary findings, the commercial aircraft took off while Marine One was approaching the airport. Although the airplane was climbing above the presidential helicopter and the two aircraft were not on a collision course, investigators said there was a temporary reduction in the required separation distance.
“There was a momentary loss of separation after which the aircraft continued to move away from one another.”
The FAA added, “The air traffic controller was in contact with both the commercial pilot and Marine One pilot during the loss of separation.”
The White House stressed that the President's safety was never at risk.
“Marine One flights are piloted by some of the best aviators in the world, and at no point was the President in harm’s way,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said.
The U.S. Marine Corps also defended the helicopter crew's actions.
“There were no ‘close calls’ with the routine Marine One movement,” Marine Corps spokesperson Capt. Jacob Sugg said.
“Washington National Tower did not delay the helicopter crew, ask them to hold, or otherwise alter their flight profile.”
The incident has renewed scrutiny of operations around Reagan National Airport, one of the busiest and most complex airspaces in the United States due to the close proximity of commercial, military and government aircraft.
Safety concerns have persisted since the deadly 2025 midair collision. During congressional hearings earlier this year, officials disclosed that a hotline connecting the Pentagon and Reagan National's control tower had been out of service for more than three years without the FAA's knowledge.
In response to that crash, the FAA implemented several safety measures, including stricter separation between helicopters and commercial aircraft, mandatory radar-based traffic separation by controllers and requirements for military aircraft to broadcast their locations continuously.
Families of victims of the 2025 collision also questioned why broader aviation safety reforms have yet to be enacted, urging Congress to pass legislation based on recommendations made by the NTSB.
Published: 06 Aug 2026, 07:04 am IST
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