Trump's helicopter dangerously close to passenger plane
The FAA has launched an investigation after a dangerous close call between Trump's Marine One helicopter and a passenger plane over Washington. The incident occurred because air traffic controllers allowed a commercial airliner to take off while the presidential helicopter was departing. The aircraft did not collide, and the president was unharmed. The investigation is examining the crew's communications with controllers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation after President Donald Trump's helicopter, Marine One, came dangerously close to a passenger plane over Washington. The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 4, when Marine One departed from the White House and headed to Andrews Air Force Base, where Trump was to board Air Force One for California. At the same time, a passenger plane, an Embraer E-170, took off from Reagan National Airport and climbed above the presidential helicopter, temporarily violating the safe separation distance. According to the FAA, the aircraft were not on a collision course, and the president's life was never in danger. However, sources told The Wall Street Journal that controllers did not halt commercial flights despite receiving a warning about the helicopter's departure three minutes in advance. This violation occurred amid a ban on simultaneous movement of commercial aircraft and military helicopters in the area, imposed after a January 2025 crash that killed 67 people. As part of the investigation, the FAA is reviewing the helicopter crew's communications with controllers. White House spokesman Kush Desai said the president was never in danger, and a Marine Corps spokesman said there was no near-collision situation.