New Audio Reveals Air Traffic Confusion During Trump’s Marine One Departure

When President Donald Trump departed the White House aboard Marine One on Tuesday, air traffic controllers did not stop commercial departures at nearby Reagan National Airport, prompting a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation after a brief loss of required separation between the presidential helicopter and a departing commercial plane. 

According to air traffic control audio, Marine One radioed, “National Tower, that’s Marine One, proceeding as briefed.”

Controllers responded, “Marine One, you got, uh, traffic rotating off Runway 1, E-170.”

The helicopter replied, “We’ll be doing a momentary delay.” 

The traffic was an American Airlines regional jet bound for Pensacola, Florida

The FAA said its preliminary investigation found “there was a momentary loss of separation after which the aircraft continued to move away from one another.”

“The air traffic controller was in contact with both the commercial pilot and Marine One pilot during the loss of separation,” the agency added.

Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Jacob Sugg defended the helicopter crew.

“Washington National Tower did not delay the helicopter crew, ask them to hold, or otherwise alter their flight profile,” he said. “To the contrary, the ATC team approved the requested route and provided timely and appropriate traffic information.”

Sugg added: “There were no ‘close calls’ with the routine Marine One movement.”

The White House echoed support for the helicopter pilots.

“Marine One flights are piloted by some of the best aviators in the world, and at no point was the President in harm’s way,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said.

The FAA is investigating why controllers did not halt commercial traffic during the presidential departure.

The incident comes after the FAA tightened airspace procedures around Reagan National following the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people.

Under those revised rules, helicopters and commercial aircraft are no longer permitted to share the same airspace surrounding the airport. Military aircraft are also required to continuously broadcast their positions, and controllers are prohibited from relying solely on visual separation.