Federal aviation officials are investigating a safety incident involving Marine One after the presidential helicopter carrying President Donald Trump briefly came too close to a passenger jet near Washington, D.C.
The incident occurred Tuesday as Marine One departed the White House for Joint Base Andrews while an Envoy Air passenger jet was taking off from Reagan Washington National Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration said there was a brief “loss of separation” between the two aircraft, meaning they came closer than required under federal air traffic rules. Both aircraft continued safely, and the White House said the president was never in danger.
According to the FAA, an air traffic controller remained in contact with both pilots during the incident. Commercial flights are supposed to be temporarily halted during certain Marine One movements in the tightly controlled airspace around Washington, but the passenger jet was allowed to depart as the presidential helicopter approached the area.
The incident is drawing additional attention because aviation authorities tightened helicopter operations around Reagan National following the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter. All 67 people aboard the two aircraft were killed, prompting new restrictions intended to create greater separation between helicopters and commercial planes in the region.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the Marine One incident, while the FAA is conducting its own safety review. The investigation is expected to examine why commercial traffic was not stopped as required and whether additional changes are needed to prevent a similar incident.
