FAA reviewing incident involving Trump flight on Marine One, air traffic controllers at National Airport

Key Points:

• The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating why airport traffic was not halted when Marine One departed the White House with President Trump on board, despite regulations requiring a ground stop for such flights at Reagan National Airport.
• Following a fatal midair collision in January 2025, non-essential helicopter operations around Reagan National Airport are banned, with exceptions for Marine One and emergency flights, which must still trigger a ground stop during Potomac crossings.
• On Tuesday, Marine One's pilot attempted to notify air traffic control of the impending departure, but communication issues led to the helicopter lifting off while other air traffic was still active, prompting the tower to alert Marine One of nearby traffic.
• The FAA confirmed President Trump was never in danger and described the incident as a "momentary loss of separation," with the Marine Corps calling the flight routine and stating that air traffic controllers approved the route and provided appropriate information.
• The FAA continues to review the incident to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.