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FAA Halts Airport Traffic for Trump Air Force One Flyover

By Drooid · Oct 30, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a low-altitude Air Force One flyover over Washington, D.C., during a Halloween party.
The FAA halted traffic at Reagan Washington National Airport for the flyover.
Only 15 minutes’ notice was given to downtown D.C., the Pentagon and the airport.
Departures were delayed 26% and arrivals 17%, affecting 202 flights.
The $400 million Boeing 747-8, gifted by Qatar, flew as low as 375 feet, sparking anxiety.

History

After the Air Force One call sign was formalized in 1954 to prevent confusion with commercial flights, Eisenhower’s 1959 jet trips introduced high-speed presidential travel. By the 1960s the fleet included three Boeing 707s, establishing protocols that later guided FAA procedures for presidential flyovers, such as Nixon’s 1973 Washington pass in the capital.

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After the Air Force One call sign was formalized in 1954 to prevent confusion with commercial flights, Eisenhower’s 1959 jet trips introduced high-speed presidential travel. By the 1960s the fleet included three Boeing 707s, establishing protocols that later guided FAA procedures for presidential flyovers, such as Nixon’s 1973 Washington pass in the capital.

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