Marine One near miss in Washington, D.C. involving Donald Trump near Ronald Reagan National Airport

A loss of minimum separation in Washington, D.C., between a commercial jet and the US presidential helicopter carrying Donald Trump is being investigated.

What happened over Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

The incident involved Marine One-the callsign used by any helicopter transporting the President of the United States-and a commercial aircraft departing from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the US capital.

On Wednesday, 29 July, the presidential helicopter crossed the airport during a routine trip from the White House to Joint Base Andrews, where Air Force One is based.

As is standard, when the “presidential air convoy” transits the area, take-offs and landings at the National Airport are paused. This procedure became mandatory after a mid-air collision between an American Eagle Bombardier CRJ-700 and a Black Hawk assigned to senior Pentagon officials.

Background: the “Potomac River Tragedy” (January 2025)

The January 2025 crash became known as the “Potomac River Tragedy” because both aircraft fell into the river that runs through the US capital. The disaster killed 67 people, with no survivors.

The investigation found problems with how separation was organised between helicopters and commercial aircraft operating at Reagan National, and also concluded that the US Army helicopter was flying at an altitude and in a position beyond what was permitted.

Statements from the White House, US Marine Corps and FAA

In the latest case, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told the Associated Press that the loss of separation was only momentary. The FAA also said the air traffic controller was aware of the situation and remained in contact with both aircraft; even so, the incident will be investigated.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai said that “the Marine One flights are carried out by the best aviators in the world, and at no point was the president’s life at risk”.

The US Marine Corps, which is responsible for all presidential helicopters, said in an official statement that “there was no near accident, and the Reagan Airport tower did not delay the Marine One crew by asking them to hold, nor did it ask them to change route. On the contrary, air traffic control approved the requested route and always provided appropriate information about other traffic”.

Which Marine One helicopter was involved?

It is still unclear whether the flight took place at night, and whether it was conducted by the Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King-the classic Marine One, favoured by Trump and now being retired-or by the newer VH-60N White Hawk (Black Hawk) or the recently introduced VH-92A Patriot, all of them also built by the US manufacturer Sikorsky.