White House construction played part in Trump helicopter incident, safety officials say

Key Points:

• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that communication failures due to the relocation of the White House helipad caused a near-miss incident on August 4, when Marine One took off without the required three-minute notice to air traffic controllers, leading to a loss of separation with a nearby passenger jet.
• Helicopter flights were moved from the White House South Lawn to the Ellipse park because of ongoing White House construction projects, including a new ballroom and helipad, complicating communication between Marine One and air traffic control.
• Despite attempts by Marine One's crew to notify controllers, radio communication failed twice, and backup methods also did not work, resulting in Marine One lifting off amid active commercial flight departures from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
• Following the incident, the FAA relocated an antenna and changed procedures to improve communication; however, a brief loss of contact with Marine One occurred again on August 10, though it did not pose a safety risk.
• The helipad under construction on the South Lawn is being modified due to President Trump's dissatisfaction with its design and slope, while proximity rules were tightened after a fatal 2025 collision between a commercial airliner and a military helicopter over Washington, D.C.