Air incident in Washington: Donald Trump's helicopter got too close to a passenger plane
The FAA reported a "momentary loss of separation" between the President's Marine One helicopter and a passenger plane taking off from Reagan National Airport. The US President was not in danger, and the US is considering opening an investigation into the matter.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that a military helicopter carrying US President Donald Trump was too close to a passenger plane taking off from Reagan National Airport in Washington.
According to the FAA statement, an initial review indicated that there was a "momentary loss of separation" between the aircraft, after which they continued to move away from each other. The agency emphasized that Donald Trump was not in danger during the incident.
The presidential helicopter "Marine One" took off on Tuesday afternoon from the White House, but two sources told Reuters that air traffic controllers did not stop commercial flights at the nearby airport, as required by a safety protocol established last year following a fatal accident.
The incident comes against the backdrop of a re-examination of safety procedures in the area of Reagan Airport, which is considered one of the busiest and most sensitive airports in the US due to its proximity to the seat of government in Washington.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy said the agency is considering opening an investigation into the incident involving US President Donald Trump's helicopter, after a "loss of separation" occurred between it and a passenger plane near Reagan Airport. The FAA stated earlier that the President was not in danger.
