Marine One Helicopter Flies Through Restricted Area at Reagan National, Raising Safety Concerns

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating an incident Tuesday afternoon where Marine One, carrying President Trump, flew through a restricted airspace at Washington’s Reagan National Airport despite a ban on non-essential helicopter operations following a fatal midair collision in January 2025.

Presidential Helicopter Pilot Attempts to Alert Tower

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Marine One pilot contacted the DCA air traffic tower three times to warn controllers of the helicopter’s imminent takeoff. The tower initially acknowledged the message but requested a repeat due to concerns about its clarity, stating it was "broken and unreadable."

Tower Alerts Helicopter to Ongoing Traffic

Despite the warning, Marine One lifted off, catching the tower off guard. Air traffic controllers then informed the pilot that aircraft were still operating at National Airport and a plane was in the air. The controller instructed, "Marine One, you’ve got traffic rotating off runway one," to which the pilot responded with a planned delay.

FAA Confirms ‘Momentary Loss of Separation’

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that President Trump was not in danger and stated there was a “momentary loss of separation” between the aircraft. They will continue to review the incident. The Marine Corps described the flight as ‘routine,’ noting that air traffic controllers had approved the requested route and provided timely traffic information. Sarah Ploss contributed to this report.

In: Federal Aviation Administration Donald Trump Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport