Commercial plane takes off as Trump’s helicopter nears airport; FAA investigates

The Federal Aviation Administration is probing a potential safety breach after a commercial plane took off from Reagan National Airport as President Donald Trump’s helicopter, Marine One, was approaching the same location on Tuesday. The event occurred as Marine One transported Trump for the initial leg of his West Coast journey.

The commercial aircraft lifted off around the same time and rose above the oncoming helicopter. The FAA disclosed that the two aircraft were not on a collision path but admitted to a "temporary lapse in separation." The agency stated that the air traffic controller was communicating with both the commercial pilot and Marine One pilot throughout the period of separation, according to Reuters.

This occurrence is noteworthy due to the FAA's implementation of stricter protocols at Reagan National Airport following a midair collision on January 29, 2025, which claimed 67 lives. Under the updated regulations, all takeoffs and landings at the airport are mandated to cease whenever a helicopter comes within a certain distance of an aircraft. The FAA has not disclosed why the commercial flight was authorized to take off while Marine One was in proximity. It is currently investigating the specifics of the incident.

The White House assured that Trump was not endangered, emphasizing that Marine One pilots are among the most skilled aviators worldwide and that the President was never in peril. The Marine Corps also dismissed claims that the helicopter came dangerously close to the plane, stating that there were no "close calls" during the routine movement of the Marine One.

Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Jacob Sugg confirmed that Washington National Tower did not postpone or instruct the helicopter crew to hold; instead, it "approved the requested route and provided timely and appropriate traffic information."

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on this incident. The airspace surrounding the White House and Reagan National Airport is notoriously busy, with a multitude of military and commercial aircraft sharing the same area. In the wake of last year's crash, the FAA has taken measures to prevent helicopters and airplanes from operating in the same airspace around Reagan. Controllers are also prohibited from relying on visual separation and are required to broadcast the locations of military aircraft.

Survivors' families of last year's crash have questioned whether sufficient steps have been taken to enhance safety in the densely populated airspace. They have called upon Congress to pass aviation safety reforms endorsed by the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB has affirmed that it is still gathering data about Tuesday's incident and has not yet determined whether to initiate its own probe.