Kathmandu— Investigators are looking into why a commercial jet was allowed to take off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday afternoon as President Donald Trump's helicopter, Marine One, approached the airport. This incident seems to violate safety protocols established following a midair collision near the same airport in January 2025 that killed 67 people.
Safety Protocols and Violations
After the deadly midair collision last year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented strict safety measures to prevent similar incidents. These protocols mandate a halt on all takeoffs and landings at Reagan National Airport whenever a military helicopter passes by on a conflicting route. However, in this recent incident, a commercial jet took off as Marine One was approaching, raising questions about the adherence to these safety procedures.
Investigative Efforts
Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA are investigating what transpired during the incident. According to a preliminary investigation by the FAA, there was a momentary loss of separation between the commercial jet and Marine One, but both aircraft continued moving away from each other. The air traffic controller maintained contact with both the commercial pilot and the Marine One crew throughout this period.
Communication Issues
Audio recordings from Air Traffic Control reveal confusion over communication between the Marine One pilot and the tower. The Marine One pilot initially informed the tower of their imminent departure, but the transmission was not acknowledged properly. This led to a delay in coordination as the controller seemed surprised by the helicopter's approach.
Response from Authorities
The White House spokesperson Kush Desai emphasized that President Trump was never in danger during this incident. Marine Corps spokesperson Capt. Jacob Sugg also defended the actions of their pilots, stating there were no 'close calls' with the routine Marine One movement.
(With inputs from AP)
Originally published on abcnews.com.np.
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