Close Call Involving Marine One Highlights Ongoing Airspace Safety Gaps at Reagan National Airport

On a Tuesday in August, Marine One lifted off from the Ellipse with President Donald Trump aboard. An American Airlines regional jet departing Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport entered the helicopter’s protective bubble, causing a brief loss of separation before the aircraft moved apart. The FAA affirmed the President was never in danger. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a telecommunications problem between the Marine One team and the FAA caused the breakdown.

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The incident revives scrutiny of Reagan National’s congested airspace. On January 29, 2025, an Army Black Hawk collided with an American Airlines regional jet over the Potomac, killing 67 people. The NTSB issued 50 safety recommendations, citing a helicopter route too close to landing paths, inadequate evaluation of close-call data, and overreliance on pilots’ “see-and-avoid.” Subsequent close calls—including a Delta Airbus A319 versus Air Force T-38 jets—underscore systemic issues.

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• 15,214 near-miss events recorded between 2021-2024 where aircraft were within one nautical mile and less than 400 ft vertically.

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• 85 instances where aircraft were less than 1,500 ft apart and within 200 ft of altitude.

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• FAA-mandated reduction of landings per hour at Reagan National from 36 to 30.

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• Staffing increases added certified controllers and specialists in January.

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• Nationwide modernization: deployment of 53 surface-movement radars at 44 busy airports, with full rollout slated for 2028.

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Secretary Duffy told reporters that “some telecom issues” existed at the staff level between the Marine One team and the FAA and that the problem has been elevated for joint resolution. The FAA convened a safety review panel, pledged enhanced three-minute lift notifications, and boosted signal frequencies. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford noted an AI analysis revealing an overreliance on pilot “see-and-avoid” and announced new rules requiring helicopter pilots to maintain continuous contact with air traffic control.

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NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy reiterated that many safety gaps remain unaddressed, urging Congress to act on pending legislation. She praised recent congressional steps but warned that without further regulatory changes, incidents like the Marine One close call could recur.

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Legislative efforts to modernize collision-alert technology have stalled. The Senate passed the ROTOR Act, which would have required ADS-B In on most aircraft, but the House rejected the measure in February. A House committee introduced the ALERT Act, claiming to address NTSB recommendations without mandating ADS-B In on every aircraft.

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• “We’ve found at a staff level, between the Marine One team and the FAA, there had been some telecom issues,” — Sean Duffy

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• “We identified an overreliance on pilot ‘see and avoid’ operations that contribute to safety events involving helicopters and airplanes,” — Bryan Bedford

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The FAA has posted a public timeline tracking implementation of NTSB recommendations, noting that some actions may take years due to rulemaking and collective-bargaining constraints. Congressional deliberations on the ROTOR and ALERT bills are expected to resume after the August recess, with a final vote anticipated in September. Upgrades to telecommunications infrastructure, surface-movement radar, and controller staffing are slated for completion by 2028, aiming to reduce future close calls in Washington’s busiest airspace.

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