The military helicopter carrying President Trump experienced a “loss of separation” incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating a “loss of separation” incident in which Marine One, with President Donald Trump aboard, and a regional passenger jet passed within less than a mile of each other on Tuesday. As the military helicopter prepared to depart the White House en route to Joint Base Andrews for the first leg of the president’s travel to Los Angeles, California, audio recordings show that the crew made multiple attempts to alert air traffic controllers at the Ronald Reagan National Airport tower of their imminent take off.
The communication to air traffic control was apparently garbled, and Marine One departed the Ellipse heading toward the Maryland military base. A minute after takeoff, the tower warned Marine One there was “traffic.” According to the preliminary findings of the Federal Aviation Administration, the military helicopter came within 0.8 miles laterally and 700 feet vertically of an Envoy Air passenger jet as the latter was taking off from the airport.
The January 29, 2025, fatal crash between a military helicopter and a commercial jet also occurred in Reagan National airspace.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- With gratitude to the Lord that the president’s helicopter did not collide with the passenger jet.
- For FAA and NTSB officials as they investigate the loss of separation incident.
- For air traffic controllers and airport officials as they work to manage inbound and outbound flights as well as movement of aircraft through their respective airspace.
Sources: NY Times, RedState, UPI News
