NTSB Says Marine One Near-Miss Followed Failed 3-Minute Warning at Reagan
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Aug 27
NTSB Says Marine One Near-Miss Followed Failed 3-Minute Warning at Reagan
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Aug 27
Summary
A week before the Aug. 4 near-miss, Washington controllers and Marine One pilots had already met about recurring radio failures and agreed on a backup procedure that also broke down that day, the NTSB said.
Tower audio shows the Marine One pilot gave the required three-minute takeoff warning, but the controller said the transmission was broken and appeared not to realize the helicopter was launching until it was already departing.
The helicopter and an Envoy Air jet were briefly too close before the jet climbed above Marine One and the helicopter paused after spotting the traffic; officials said President Donald Trump was never in danger.
The incident appeared to undercut post-crash Reagan rules requiring takeoffs and landings to stop for conflicting helicopter routes after the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision that killed 67 people.
The NTSB said the failure fits a broader pattern around Reagan, where military-civilian coordination has been strained and a Pentagon-to-tower hotline had been inoperative for more than three years.