US News
NTSB report shows controllers and Marine One pilots met over communication issues prior to Reagan National incident
A preliminary NTSB report reveals that air traffic controllers and Marine One pilots established back-up procedures a week before a dual takeoff incident, but the alternative method also failed.
The short version
- Air traffic controllers and Marine One pilots met one week before an Aug. 4 dual takeoff incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to address ongoing communication failures.
- During the Aug. 4 departure, a three-minute warning radio transmission from Marine One was unreadable to the controller, leading to an unexpected simultaneous departure with a jet airliner.
- Marine One pilots spotted the jet and delayed their flight path, allowing the airplane to climb safely above the helicopter while carrying President Donald Trump.
- Federal officials stated President Trump was never in danger, though the proximity briefly violated FAA airspace procedures implemented after a 2025 fatal collision.
Key facts
- Air traffic controllers and Marine One pilots met a week before the Aug. 4 incident to discuss communication failures and establish alternative protocols.[Associated Press · ABC News]
- The NTSB preliminary report found that the alternative communication protocol agreed upon by controllers and pilots failed on the day of the incident.[Associated Press · ABC News]
- Tower audio indicated the Marine One pilot attempted to issue the required three-minute warning transmission, but the controller found it broken and unreadable.[Associated Press · ABC News]
- Marine One pilots temporarily paused departure after observing the conflicting traffic, allowing the jet to safely gain altitude above the helicopter.[Associated Press · ABC News]
- Officials stated President Donald Trump was carrying on board Marine One during the event and was never in danger.[Associated Press · ABC News]
- Post-collision FAA safety rules adopted after a Jan. 29, 2025, midair crash require halting airport takeoffs and landings whenever a helicopter passes on a conflicting route.[Associated Press · ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- The exact technical reason why both the primary radio transmission and the pre-agreed alternative communication method failed remains under investigation.[Associated Press · ABC News]