Trump's Helicopter May Have Come Too Close To Plane: Report
A report indicates that Marine One came within a mile of a passenger jet near Washington, D.C., due to communication issues with air traffic control. The NTSB is investigating the event, though the White House and FAA have downplayed the risk to the President.
Why it matters
This incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in air traffic management around high-security zones and the importance of strict adherence to separation protocols.
US authorities are investigating if a military helicopter carrying Donald Trump came too close to a passenger jet above Washington this week, with the White House insisting Wednesday the president was never in danger. According to a New York Times report citing two people familiar with the matter, Marine One came within less than a mile of a passenger plane above the US capital on Tuesday after garbled communications with air traffic controllers.The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it is "investigating a reported loss of separation event between Marine One and a commercial aircraft departing DCA (Washington National Airport) that occurred on August 4."Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, told AFP "Marine One flights are piloted by some of the best aviators in the world, and at no point was the president in harm's way."US aviation regulator the FAA said that "the air traffic controller was in contact with both…
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