Marine One helicopter crew failed to reach air traffic control before safety incident, report says

On August 4, the Marine One helicopter, carrying US President Donald Trump, came dangerously close to an Envoy Air regional jet at Reagan Washington National Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that the helicopter crew failed to communicate with air traffic controllers before departing, despite attempting to give a required three-minute notice of departure twice.

The incident raised concerns due to the proximity of the helicopter and the commercial jet, which should have been halted during the departure. The NTSB attributed the communication issues to a lack of coordination between the helicopter crew and controllers at the joint base Anacostia-Bolling. FAA rules mandate a minimum separation of 1.5 miles horizontally and 500 feet vertically between aircraft around airports.

Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed permanent restrictions on helicopter operations around Reagan Airport after a 2025 midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter. The NTSB had previously met with Marine One and air traffic staff to address concerns about communication delays.