FAA Reports 'Loss of Separation' Between Marine One and Airliner Near Reagan Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported on Wednesday that the Marine One helicopter, carrying President Donald Trump, came too close to a commercial passenger jet near Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) a day earlier. The agency said its preliminary review found the president was not in danger during the event.

Details of the Incident

According to an FAA statement, the incident involved a "momentary loss of separation" between the two aircraft on Tuesday afternoon. "Loss of separation" is the technical term for when aircraft violate the minimum required vertical or horizontal distance maintained by air traffic control for safety.

The FAA confirmed that after the brief period of proximity, "the aircraft continued to move away from one another." The agency is conducting a safety review of the circumstances surrounding the event.

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Procedural Lapse Cited

Two sources cited by Reuters indicated the incident may have stemmed from a procedural failure. According to these sources, air-traffic controllers at Reagan National did not halt commercial departures as Marine One took off from the White House.

This procedure is reportedly required under a policy established last year following a fatal collision. The failure to ground flights during the presidential helicopter's transit appears to be a key focus of the FAA's ongoing investigation.