White House construction played part in Trump helicopter incident, safety officials say
Summary
Safety officials say that construction work at the White House led to a communication problem during a recent Marine One helicopter takeoff, causing it to come too close to a passenger jet. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the helicopter crew failed to give timely notice to air traffic controllers, which is required to pause nearby commercial flights for safety.Key Facts
- Marine One flights were moved from the South Lawn to the Ellipse because of White House construction projects.
- The helicopter crew did not give the required three-minute advance notice to air traffic controllers before takeoff on August 4.
- Due to the missed notice, commercial flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were not stopped as usual.
- Marine One and an American Airlines Embraer E170 passenger jet came closer than FAA rules allow, but no immediate danger was found.
- Communication problems were caused by relocated antennas and construction-related changes.
- The FAA has changed procedures and moved antennas to fix communication issues after the incident.
- Air traffic controllers met with Marine One staff days before to address ongoing communication spotty issues.
- An incomplete backup communication system failed during the incident, causing the close positioning of the aircraft.
- The incident follows stricter safety rules after a deadly midair helicopter-plane collision in January 2025.
- A new Marine One helipad under construction is being altered because President Trump is unhappy with its look and slope.
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