Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Marine One Loses Air Traffic Communication Again Near Washington Airport
Marine One is the helicopter used to carry the U.S. president.
On Thursday, it had trouble talking to air traffic controllers near the White House.
Another helicopter told the control tower that Marine One planned to take off soon.
The tower did not clearly hear Marine One at first.
Communication worked again after the helicopter left the White House Ellipse.
This was the second similar communication problem in August.
Earlier, Marine One came relatively close to a passenger plane, although officials said there was no collision risk.
The FAA said it took steps to improve the radio connection.
Marine One lost contact with air traffic controllers Thursday while preparing to depart the White House Ellipse.
A nearby helicopter relayed Marine One’s planned three-minute departure after controllers missed its transmissions.
Communication was restored after takeoff, allowing President Donald Trump to travel to Joint Base Andrews.
A similar August 4 incident brought Marine One within 0.82 miles horizontally and 700 feet vertically of a passenger plane.
The FAA said it relocated an antenna and reviewed procedures after investigators identified inadequate line of sight linked to White House construction.
- Who
- Marine One pilots, air traffic controllers, President Donald Trump, the FAA, and the NTSB were involved.
- What
- Marine One’s radio communications with air traffic controllers failed or were unreadable during a planned departure.
- When
- The latest incident occurred Thursday, after a similar incident on August 4.
- Where
- The latest problem occurred near the White House Ellipse and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington.
- Why
- Investigators said White House construction contributed to inadequate line of sight between a radio site and the temporary landing zone.
FAA account
Investigation findings
Whether communication was adequate before takeoff
FAA account
The FAA said the three-minute notification was communicated by alternate means, acknowledged by a controller, and that positive contact was established before takeoff.
Investigation findings
Investigators said controllers did not receive the first transmission and that the second attempt was broken and completely unreadable.
Cause of the communication problem
FAA account
The FAA said it took immediate action by relocating an antenna and reviewing procedures after the August 4 incident.
Investigation findings
Investigators identified White House construction and inadequate line of sight to the temporary landing site as contributing factors.
Safety significance
FAA account
The FAA said the latest departure proceeded after contact was established, while the August 4 aircraft separation did not pose a collision risk.
Investigation findings
The August 4 incident prompted investigations by the FAA and NTSB because the aircraft were closer than the usual horizontal separation standard.
- Latest incident
- Marine One’s transmissions were not heard by controllers before its departure from the White House Ellipse.
- Communication workaround
- A nearby helicopter relayed Marine One’s three-minute departure notification to the tower.
- Outcome
- Marine One re-established contact after takeoff and flew President Trump to Joint Base Andrews.
- Earlier incident
- On August 4, Marine One and an American Airlines regional aircraft came within 0.82 miles horizontally and 700 feet vertically.
- Required separation
- FAA rules require commercial aircraft to maintain at least 1.5 miles and 500 feet of vertical separation from a helicopter near Reagan National Airport.
- Identified factor
- Investigators cited inadequate line of sight between the radio transmitter-receiver site and the temporary landing zone at the Ellipse.
- FAA response
- The FAA relocated an antenna to improve communications and reviewed related procedures.