White House construction may have contributed to Trump's Marine One getting close to commercial jet - What we know
NTSB reported that ongoing White House construction contributed to radio communication issues, leading to a near-collision. Problems arose due to inadequate line-of-sight and relocation of Marine One during construction, prompting FAA action to improve communications.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that ongoing White House construction contributed to communication issues during a close call between Marine One, carrying President Donald Trump, and an Envoy Air jet at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on August 4. Radio problems arose due to the construction, which forced Marine One to take off from the Ellipse instead of the South Lawn.
The investigation revealed that there was insufficient line-of-sight for communication between the radio transmitter/receiver and the Ellipse. Prior to the incident, air traffic controllers and Marine One pilots had met to discuss controllers not receiving the standard three-minute warning call. After the close call, technicians discovered the issue stemmed from Marine One shifting locations during construction, leading the Federal Aviation Administration to move the radio receiver to the top of the tower at Reagan Airport.
Despite knowing of prior communication issues, the FAA failed to address the root cause. FAA rules require a minimum separation of 1.72 miles laterally or 500 feet vertically between aircraft in Class B airspace. The close call occurred near the White House and Reagan Airport, which have a highly congested airspace with both military and commercial aircraft.
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