A year and a half after a deadly midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, safety concerns persist. Last Tuesday, a passenger jet got too close to Marine One, the helicopter carrying President Donald Trump. The incident occurred despite typical protocols to halt flights during presidential takeoffs.

Investigation and Response

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident, citing a telecommunications problem as the cause. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the issue is being resolved and that the FAA and the White House Military Office are working together to enhance coordination.

The incident is the latest in a series of safety concerns at the airport. In January 2025, a midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet resulted in 67 fatalities. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the crash was caused by a combination of factors, including a helicopter route too close to landing planes and inadequate evaluation of close call data.

Efforts to Improve Safety

The FAA has taken steps to address safety concerns, including reducing the number of planes allowed to land each hour at Reagan National Airport and increasing the number of air traffic controllers. However, more needs to be done to address the underlying issues, according to NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy.

The FAA has also implemented new rules requiring helicopter pilots to be in contact with air traffic control and not rely on visual sightings of nearby planes. Additionally, the agency has prohibited cross traffic between helicopters and airplanes, unless it’s for presidential movement or law enforcement purposes.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.