FAA probing Marine One safety incident near National Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating why airport traffic was not halted when Marine One, carrying President Trump, departed Reagan National Airport on Tuesday. The incident occurred despite strict protocols implemented after a fatal helicopter-jet collision in January 2025.

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was broken and unreadable.

Following the 2025 midair collision at Reagan National, the Transportation Department prohibited non-essential helicopter operations near the airport. Marine One and emergency flights are exempt, but their departures or arrivals necessitate a ground stop at the airport. On Tuesday, as the president was leaving Washington, Marine One's pilot attempted to contact the tower three times to alert controllers of the impending departure.

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Marine One, you've got traffic rotating off runway one.

The tower acknowledged one communication but stated it was "broken and unreadable." Marine One lifted off, apparently catching the tower by surprise. An air traffic controller then informed the helicopter, "Marine One, you've got traffic rotating off runway one." The presidential helicopter acknowledged and held its position, informing the tower, "National Tower, Marine One, we're going to be doing a delay."

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National Tower, Marine One, we're going to be doing a delay.

The FAA confirmed that President Trump was never in danger, stating there was a "momentary loss of separation" before the aircraft moved away from each other. The Marine Corps described the flight as "routine," asserting that air traffic controllers had "approved the requested route and provided timely and appropriate traffic information."

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there was momentary loss of separation after which the aircraft continued to move away from one another.