Why was a plane allowed to take off as Trump's helicopter approached

On Tuesday, a commercial plane took off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as US President Donald Trump's helicopter, Marine One, approached, despite safety measures put in place following a deadly mid-air collision last year. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the incident, which has raised questions about the effectiveness of the new safety protocols.

Although the FAA stated that the plane and helicopter never came into a collision course, a momentary loss of separation occurred, with air traffic controllers maintaining contact throughout the event. The White House claimed the president was never in any danger, noting that Marine One pilots are highly skilled aviators. However, the incident has reignited criticism from families of the victims of the January 2025 crash, who are pushing for more stringent aviation safety reforms.