Federal investigators are examining how a passenger jet came dangerously close to Marine One, the military helicopter carrying President Donald Trump, officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed.
Marine One departed from the Ellipse, just south of the White House, on Tuesday afternoon.
Normally, air traffic at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, only three miles away, is halted during a presidential lift-off. But according to air-traffic control recordings reviewed by CNN, flights continued for several minutes after the helicopter took off.
“Based on our preliminary safety review, there was momentary loss of separation after which the aircraft continued to move away from one another,” the FAA said in a statement, adding that corrective measures would be taken if necessary.
The NTSB also announced it was opening a formal investigation.
Concerns about the congested airspace around Reagan National have intensified since last year’s deadly collision between a US Army Blackhawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet, which killed all 67 people aboard. In response, the FAA imposed strict limits on helicopter operations near the airport.
Audio recordings suggest Marine One’s pilots repeatedly notified the tower of their intention to depart, but the controller either did not respond or reported the transmission as “broken and unreadable.”
At 2:31 p.m., one pilot said: “Tower, do you copy. Marine One, three minutes to lift.”
Minutes later, the crew announced they were proceeding on their planned route. The controller eventually acknowledged them, warning of a regional jet already taking off.
Marine One’s pilots confirmed they had visual contact with the plane and held position before continuing to Joint Base Andrews, where Trump boarded Air Force One bound for Los Angeles.
Marine One lifted off at 2:33 p.m., according to a pool report. One minute later, American Airlines flight 3742, an Envoy Air E170 regional jet headed to Pensacola, Florida, departed Reagan National. Flight-tracking data shows the jet passed within 1.5 miles of the Ellipse. Both aircraft landed safely.
Video captured by journalist Dave Statter shows the jet climbing as Marine One flew past the skyline in the opposite direction.
A Marine Corps spokesperson told CNN the flight was “routine,” adding that the tower did not delay or alter Marine One’s departure.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai emphasized: “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.”
