Trump flight under investigation after his helicopter ‘flew too close to passenger jet’ – year after deadly crash

THE helicopter carrying President Donald Trump is under investigation after it reportedly flew too close to a passenger jet in a potential safety mishap. Federal investigators are probing how a commercial plane was allowed to take off as Marine One approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – despite safety rules brought in after last year’s horror midair crash that killed 67 people. Marine One, left, with President Donald Trump aboard, lifts off from the Ellipse, on Tuesday Credit: AP President Donald Trump waves as he walks to board Marine One Credit: AP The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have both launched investigations into Tuesday’s incident, which happened as Trump was heading to Andrews Air Force Base for the first leg of his West Coast trip. Officials said there was a “momentary loss of separation” between the presidential helicopter and the commercial aircraft before the two moved safely away from one another. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The FAA said: “Based on our preliminary safety review, there was momentary loss of separation after which the aircraft continued to move away from one another. “The air traffic controller was in contact with both the commercial pilot and Marine One pilot during the loss of separation.” Read more on Donald Trump Investigators are now trying to determine why the passenger plane was cleared for takeoff while Marine One was approaching Reagan National. Following the deadly January 29, 2025 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, the FAA ordered that all takeoffs and landing at Reagan National must stop whenever a helicopter is travelling along a conflicting route. The crash killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft and prompted sweeping changes to operations in the heavily congested airspace around Washington. Despite the apparent breach of procedure, officials stressed Trump was never at risk. Most read in The Sun White House spokesman Kush Desai said: “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.” He later added: “Although the president was at no point in harm’s way during yesterday’s momentary loss of separation, the White House continues to work with relevant military, FAA and other security personnel to ensure the president’s continued safety.” The Marine Corps also insisted there had been no danger. Captain Jacob Sugg said “There were no ‘close calls’ with the routine Marine One movement. President Donald Trump boards Marine One ahead of the first leg of his West Coast trip Credit: AP The presidential helicopter reportedly flew too close to a commercial jet near Reagan National Airport Credit: AP “Washington National Tower did not delay the helicopter crew, ask them to hold, or otherwise alter their flight profile.” Air traffic control recordings appear to reveal confusion in the moments before Marine One lifted off from the White House. The helicopter pilot was heard telling the tower: “Tower, just want to make sure you copy. Marine One, three minutes to lift.” The controller did not acknowledge the call, and after the pilot repeated the message, replied that the transmission was “broken and unreadable”. When the Marine One crew later announced they were departing as planned, the controller appeared surprised, responding: “Uh, Marine One, you said, uh, you’re proceeding as briefed?” After warning the helicopter about a departing aircraft, the Marine One pilot replied: “We’ll be doing a momentary delay.” According to flight tracking data, the commercial aircraft involved was American Airlines Flight 3742, operated by Envoy Air, which had just departed for Pensacola, Florida. The regional jet and Marine One both continued safely on their routes and landed without incident. The FAA said it is continuing to review what happened and will implement any corrective actions deemed necessary. The incident has renewed scrutiny of the busy Washington airspace, where communication failures between military and civilian controllers have previously been highlighted. Last year it emerged during hearings into the fatal Black Hawk collision that a hotline linking the Pentagon and Reagan National’s control tower had been out of service for more than three years without the FAA realising. Following that disaster, the FAA also required controllers to use radar rather than relying on pilots spotting other aircraft, and ordered all military helicopters operating near the airport to continuously broadcast their locations. Families of victims killed in last year’s collision questioned on Wednesday why more had not yet been done to improve safety around Reagan National, as they continue to push Congress to pass aviation safety reforms recommended by investigators. Comment now