06.08.2026 08:50
A Marine One helicopter carrying US President Donald Trump and a passenger plane came dangerously close in the skies over Washington, falling below safety limits. It was reported that about 1.5 kilometers of horizontal distance remained between the two aircraft, and the incident is considered to have resulted from a possible procedural violation in air traffic control. No collision occurred, but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the matter.
A dangerous close call occurred between the Marine One helicopter carrying US President Donald Trump and a passenger plane in the skies over Washington. Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation. The White House stated that Trump was never in danger.
CRITICAL ERROR IN AIR TRAFFIC
The incident occurred as Trump took off in the Marine One helicopter from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base.
According to initial findings, air traffic controllers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport cleared a passenger plane for takeoff while they should have halted commercial flights during the presidential helicopter's departure. This led to a 'loss of separation' between the two aircraft, dropping below the minimum distance required by safety rules.
NO COLLISION, INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED
According to a New York Times report citing sources familiar with the matter, the horizontal distance between Marine One and the passenger plane dropped to approximately 0.8 miles (about 1.3 kilometers), while the vertical distance fell to around 700 feet. These values remained below the required safety limits.
As the FAA and NTSB launched an investigation into the cause of the incident, air traffic control records and radio conversations were taken under review.
WHITE HOUSE: TRUMP WAS NEVER IN DANGER
A White House spokesperson stated in a statement following the incident that President Donald Trump was never in danger at any point.
The FAA also confirmed in its initial assessment that the aircraft were not on a collision course, but that safety procedures were violated. Both aircraft continued their flights safely.
RULE INTRODUCED AFTER 2025 VIOLATED
The incident brought back into focus new safety rules that came into effect following a fatal plane-helicopter collision near Washington in 2025 that killed 67 people.
These rules mandate that commercial takeoffs and landings at Ronald Reagan National Airport be temporarily halted while presidential helicopters or similar military helicopters are in the airspace. Officials are investigating why this procedure was not implemented in the latest incident.