The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating an air traffic safety incident involving Marine One while President Trump was onboard.
The incident happened on Tuesday while President Trump was traveling to Joint Base Andrews for a trip to Southern California.
“The president’s Marine One helicopter took off from the White House Tuesday afternoon, but air-traffic controllers hadn’t halted commercial flights at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as required under safety protocols, people familiar with the matter said,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
According to Reuters, a commercial flight departed Reagan Airport one minute after Marine One lifted off from the Ellipse.
Per Reuters:
Trump’s helicopter lifted off from the Ellipse near the White House around 2:33 p.m. (1833 GMT), on his way to Joint Base Andrews for a trip to Los Angeles, according to a pool report.
A source told Reuters that Envoy Air 3742 — a regional E170 jet bound for Pensacola, Florida — departed at 2:34 p.m. and was involved in the apparent loss of separation incident with Marine One. Envoy is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines (AAL.O), which did not immediately comment.
FAA rules require aircraft to remain separated by at least 1.5 miles horizontally and 500 feet vertically around airports. The sources said it appeared Marine One and the plane did not maintain separation. One said it appears they were not converging during the incident.
Video of the safety incident shows Marine One over East Potomac Park near a commercial flight.
Hellbound and Down 