<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The pilots of Marine One attempted to address communication issues in a meeting with air traffic controllers from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport five days before the helicopter departed at the same time as a passenger jet, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Thursday.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Marine One pilots confirmed that radio communication had been inconsistent during their July 30 meeting with DCA controllers. Both parties agreed on an alternative contact method in case the initial attempt failed, but both methods were unsuccessful during the aviation incident.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On August 4, Marine One took off from the Ellipse park near the White House around the same time an Envoy Air flight departed from DCA. President Donald Trump was aboard the helicopter at the time.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The helicopter pilots attempted to provide the air traffic control tower with a three-minute warning prior to their departure, as required, but the message could not be transmitted initially. The alternative method involved relaying the three-minute call through the helicopter facility at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, which also failed.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">After two unsuccessful attempts, the Marine One pilots eventually established contact with the tower once they reached a certain altitude. By that time, the airplane had already taken off after being cleared for departure.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The on-duty controller communicated this information to the helicopter pilots, who reported seeing the commercial flight and decided to briefly delay Marine One. Both aircraft continued on their respective routes.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Although the incident did not result in a collision, it was reminiscent of a fatal crash involving a military helicopter and a passenger jet at DCA in January 2025.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The mandatory three-minute warning, part of an agreement between the Pentagon and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), predates last year’s mid-air collision. The FAA subsequently implemented measures to halt commercial flights whenever a helicopter is near DCA on a conflicting route.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The FAA stated that the August 4 incident “didn’t appear to be a dangerous close call.” Separately, the White House indicated that Trump was never “in harm’s way.” The FAA reported that the closest distance between the helicopter and the plane was approximately 0.82 nautical miles laterally and about 700 feet vertically, according to the NTSB.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The FAA and NTSB initiated investigations into the August 4 incident the following day. The NTSB noted that its investigation is ongoing.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Additionally, the report mentioned that Marine One took off from the Ellipse due to ongoing construction at the White House.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This construction refers to the helipad being built on the South Lawn, where the presidential helicopter typically lands and takes off. The granite landing pad is not yet complete, although it was partially unveiled during a press tour led by the president last week.</p>