US authorities are examining a reported close encounter between Donald Trump’s presidential helicopter and a passenger aircraft over Washington. The incident occurred Tuesday, raising fresh concerns about aviation safety near the US capital. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it is “investigating a reported loss of separation event between Marine One and a commercial aircraft departing DCA (Washington National Airport) that occurred on August 4.”
According to reports, Marine One reportedly came within less than a mile of the passenger plane after unclear communications with air traffic controllers. However, the White House said Trump faced no danger during the incident.
Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, told AFP “Marine One flights are piloted by some of the best aviators in the world, and at no point was the president in harm’s way.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also confirmed that the controller communicated with both aircraft crews during the reported separation incident.
“The President was never in danger. We are continuing to review the incident and will implement any appropriate corrective actions based on our findings,” it added.
Marine One And Passenger Jet Came Close
Safety procedures reportedly require aircraft to maintain at least 1.5 miles of horizontal separation and 500 feet vertically in such situations.
The incident reportedly occurred around 2:30 pm local time. An American Airlines Embraer E-170, operated by Envoy Air, departed Washington National Airport around that time.
Meanwhile, Marine One was travelling toward Andrews Air Force Base. Trump later boarded his presidential aircraft there for a trip to California.
American Airlines and the US Marine Corps had not immediately commented on the reported incident.
Washington Airport Faces Tighter Safety Rules
The investigation comes after authorities strengthened aviation safety measures around Washington National Airport. The changes followed a deadly collision involving an airliner and an Army Black Hawk helicopter in January 2025.
That crash killed 67 people and intensified scrutiny of aircraft operations around the capital. Therefore, the latest incident could prompt officials to examine communication procedures and separation protocols again.
The NTSB investigation will determine what caused the reported loss of separation and whether further safety measures are necessary.
