Marine One near miss under investigation after close call with passenger jet
US authorities have launched a probe into a reported near miss involving the helicopter carrying President Donald Trump and a commercial passenger plane over Washington. Officials confirmed the incident took place on Tuesday and stressed that the president was never placed in any danger.
According to reports, Marine One came within less than a mile of a passenger aircraft above the capital after communications with air traffic controllers became unclear. The National Transportation Safety Board stated it is examining a loss of separation between Marine One and a commercial flight departing from Washington National Airport on August 4.
White House spokesman Kush Desai said Marine One flights are handled by some of the most skilled aviators in the world and that the president faced no risk at any point. The Federal Aviation Administration noted that the air traffic controller remained in contact with both the commercial pilot and the Marine One pilot throughout the event. The agency added that a full review is underway and any needed corrective steps will follow the findings.
Safety rules normally require aircraft to maintain at least 1.5 miles of horizontal distance and 500 feet of vertical separation. The episode reportedly happened around 2:30 pm local time. An American Airlines Embraer E-170 operated by Envoy Air took off at that moment. The helicopter was flying toward Andrews Air Force Base, where the president later boarded Air Force One for a trip to California.
Neither American Airlines nor the US Marine Corps, which operates Marine One, offered immediate comments. The FAA has already strengthened safety protocols around Washington National Airport following the deadly January 2025 collision between an airliner and an Army helicopter that claimed 67 lives.
Investigators continue to gather details on how the two aircraft ended up closer than permitted. Officials from multiple agencies are working to understand the sequence of communications and flight paths. The White House continues to emphasize that proper procedures kept the president safe while the formal review moves forward. Further updates are expected once the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA complete their examination of the reported loss of separation.
