US transport secretary addresses telecom issues after Marine One near-miss

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Tuesday that he is working to resolve telecom issues following an incident where Marine One, carrying President Donald Trump, flew too close to a commercial jet departing Reagan Washington National Airport. The event, which occurred on August 5, 2026, has prompted investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) into a potential violation of safety protocols.

The close call raised concerns about why the passenger plane was permitted to take off while the presidential helicopter was in the vicinity, a time when such commercial traffic is typically restricted. The FAA stated that there was a momentary loss of separation, but both aircraft moved away from each other, and the air traffic controller maintained contact with both pilots. The White House has emphasized that President Trump was never in danger.

According to reports, the NTSB is investigating a "loss of separation event" between Marine One and the commercial aircraft. The FAA indicated it would implement corrective actions based on its findings. A Reuters report mentioned a January 2025 crash involving a military helicopter and a commercial jet that killed 67 people, after which the FAA barred mixed helicopter and jet traffic around the airport.