Marine One helicopter crew failed to reach air traffic control before safety incident, report says

On August 4, a military helicopter carrying US President Donald Trump, known as Marine One, had a safety incident where it came too close to a passenger jet departing Reagan Washington National Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the Marine One crew failed to contact air traffic controllers before departure, despite attempting to give the required three-minute notice multiple times due to communication issues. This incident highlighted ongoing communication problems since Marine One flights moved from the White House south lawn to the Ellipse in May. The NTSB noted that Marine One and the passenger plane were separated by 0.82 nautical miles laterally and 700 feet vertically at one point, falling below FAA separation standards. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since relocated an antenna and changed procedures to address these issues. Marine One crew members acknowledged that communication "had been spotty" and agreed to use alternative communication methods when direct contact was not possible.