Key facts
- The NTSB found the Marine One crew failed to provide the required three minutes' notice to air traffic controllers before takeoff.
- White House construction necessitated the relocation of the helipad to the Ellipse, contributing to communication issues.
- The Marine One crew attempted at least twice to radio controllers but encountered communication problems.
- Controllers and Marine One staff had discussed concerns about missed departure notifications a week prior to the incident.
- The incident resulted in a loss of separation between Marine One and an Embraer E170 jet.
Safety officials indicated that White House construction played a role in a recent near-miss incident involving Marine One, the presidential helicopter, and a commercial jet. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the crew of Marine One failed to provide the required three minutes' notice to air traffic controllers before taking off from a helipad at the Ellipse, south of the White House. The relocation of the helipad from the South Lawn to the Ellipse was necessitated by ongoing construction projects. During the August 4 incident, the NTSB found that the Marine One crew attempted at least twice to radio controllers but encountered communication issues. This occurred despite a meeting a week prior where controllers and Marine One staff discussed concerns about missed 'three minute to liftoff' calls. As a result of the missed notification, commercial flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were not halted, leading to a loss of separation between Marine One and an Embraer E170 jet. The jet was rerouted out of caution. The NTSB noted that at one point, the helicopter and plane were separated laterally by 0.82 nautical miles and vertically by 700ft, falling short of FAA separation rules. Following the incident, the FAA relocated an antenna and changed procedures, and subsequent checks showed no further communication issues. However, air traffic controllers briefly lost contact with Marine One again on Thursday as President Trump was traveling to Texas, though communication was quickly restored without a safety issue.