Marine One Radio Breakdown Preceded Reagan Airport Safety Incident, NTSB Says

Presidential helicopter crew attempted to provide required departure notice, but communications failures left controllers unaware as a passenger jet departed nearby.

WASHINGTON | A communications breakdown prevented the flight crew of Marine One from successfully notifying air traffic controllers before departing with President Donald Trump aboard, contributing to an Aug. 4 loss-of-separation incident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to federal investigators.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the military helicopter crew attempted at least twice to provide the required three-minute notice before departure. Those calls, however, did not reach controllers responsible for coordinating traffic around the airport.

Without receiving the notice, controllers allowed a commercial passenger jet to depart Reagan National as Marine One entered the surrounding airspace. Commercial aircraft operations are normally paused during presidential helicopter movements to maintain required separation and reduce the risk of conflicting flight paths.

The incident did not result in a collision or reported injuries, but it renewed concerns about air traffic control communications and the coordination of military and civilian aircraft in some of the nation’s most congested and highly restricted airspace.

Investigators determined that Marine One and the regional passenger jet came within approximately 0.8 miles horizontally and 700 feet vertically. Although federal officials said President Trump was never in immediate danger, the aircraft were closer than the prescribed separation standard. Associated Press

Communication problems identified before incident

The preliminary investigation indicates that the Aug. 4 event was not the first warning of unreliable communications between presidential helicopter crews and Reagan National controllers.

Approximately one week earlier, controllers and Marine One pilots reportedly discussed persistent radio problems and established contingency procedures. Those safeguards did not prevent the subsequent breakdown.

FAA recordings did not capture the helicopter crew’s required departure notification, although independent recordings reportedly confirmed that the pilots attempted to make the call. That distinction suggests the incident involved a failure of the communications system—not simply a crew’s failure to follow notification procedures.

The temporary use of the Ellipse as a presidential helicopter departure point, instead of the White House South Lawn, also affected radio coverage. Construction projects at the White House had shifted helicopter operations to the alternate location. Reuters

FAA relocates antenna and changes procedures

The Federal Aviation Administration has since relocated communications equipment and modified procedures intended to improve radio coverage between the presidential departure site and Reagan National’s control tower.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency had addressed the antenna problem, while the NTSB investigation remains underway. Reuters

The incident is receiving heightened scrutiny following the January 2025 midair collision near Reagan National that killed 67 people aboard an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.

In its final findings on that disaster, the NTSB cited systemic problems involving helicopter-route design, air traffic control practices, workload and blocked radio transmissions. The board subsequently issued dozens of safety recommendations affecting the FAA, the Army and other aviation organizations. NTSB

Presidential flight highlights broader aviation risks

Marine One missions involve extensive security and airspace coordination among the Marine Corps, Secret Service, FAA and local air traffic controllers. The breakdown demonstrates how unreliable communications can weaken multiple layers of protection, even during one of the government’s most closely managed aviation operations.

The incident also raises questions about whether contingency procedures were sufficiently tested after radio-coverage problems were identified and whether commercial traffic should have been stopped until controllers confirmed Marine One’s location and intentions.

Investigators are expected to examine the performance of the communications equipment, the timing of the crew’s attempted calls, controller actions and coordination among the agencies responsible for presidential movements.

The NTSB’s findings remain preliminary. A final report could include additional conclusions and safety recommendations for presidential helicopter operations and civilian traffic near Reagan National.

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-- By Leticia Jacobs

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