The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a safety incident involving President Donald Trump’s Marine One helicopter and a commercial plane, according to Reuters and air-traffic control audio reviewed by CNN.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when Marine One took off from the Ellipse near the White House, while air traffic at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport continued for a couple of minutes afterward.
Details of the Incident
A review of air-traffic control audio indicates that the pilots of Marine One informed a Reagan National tower controller of their planned departure, but the controller did not respond. The pilots then proceeded with their departure, and the controller warned them about a regional jet taking off from the airport.
Marine One lifted off from the White House Ellipse around 2:33 p.m. and flew to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, for an Air Force One flight to Los Angeles. The commercial plane involved was an Envoy Air regional jet bound for Pensacola, Florida.
The FAA stated that the incident did not appear to be a dangerous close call, and the aircraft were not converging. The agency has imposed restrictions on helicopters operating near Reagan National Airport following a fatal collision last year.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
