FAA Examines Loss of Separation Involving Marine One Near D.C.

ATC failed to halt commercial traffic as Trump’s helicopter departed the White House.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, August 05, 2026 at 01:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Marine One lifts off in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. [Credit: White House]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is investigating a loss of required separation between President Trump's Marine One helicopter and a commercial airliner near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Air traffic controllers reportedly failed to halt commercial traffic, violating a policy enacted after a previous fatal midair collision.
Though a separation loss occurred between Marine One and an Envoy Air flight departing shortly after, the FAA indicated it was not a dangerous close call, and both aircraft landed safely.

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The FAA is investigating a loss of separation involving a commercial airliner and a military helicopter carrying President Donald Trump.

According to the agency, Trump’s Marine One helicopter took off from the White House Tuesday afternoon, and air traffic controllers at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) did not halt commercial traffic as required under a policy created last year after the midair collision between a military helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet that resulted in the deaths of 67 people.