Trump’s Marine One again struggles to communicate with air traffic control before takeoff after similar incident this month
Daftar Isi
Trump’s Marine One Again Faces Radio Blackout Before Takeoff
Earthguardiansonline.com – Air traffic controllers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport once more struggled to establish radio contact with Trump’s Marine One again as the presidential helicopter prepared to leave the White House on Thursday. According to air traffic control audio obtained by CNN, controllers could not reach the aircraft directly and instead relied on other helicopters already airborne to relay messages back and forth. The episode mirrors a near-identical failure recorded on August 4, when the helicopter departed the Ellipse only after two unsuccessful attempts to reach the tower roughly three minutes before liftoff, per the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report.
Because the required notification never reached the tower earlier this month, departing commercial flights were not grounded as standard procedure dictates for a presidential helicopter movement. The result: Trump’s Marine One again came within 0.82 nautical miles laterally and 700 feet vertically of an Envoy Air passenger jet that had just rotated off the runway.
Thursday’s Four-Minute Communication Gap
Audio captured during Thursday’s departure shows the helicopter attempting to reach the Washington tower for approximately four minutes before any response arrived. A separate aircraft then relayed the pilot’s message to the controller, who replied, “Oh, I couldn’t hear any of that.” About sixty seconds later, the same controller asked another aircraft to listen for the helicopter and report back.
“Do me a favor, I can’t hear Marine One. If you hear Marine One, can you let me know?”
After roughly four minutes of relayed chatter, direct contact was finally established. The Federal Aviation Administration told CNN that “the three-minute notification was communicated by alternate means, acknowledged by a controller and positive contact was established with Marine One before takeoff.” The White House directed CNN to the FAA for comment.
Root Cause and FAA Corrective Steps
The NTSB attributed the August 4 failure to inadequate line-of-sight between FAA radio equipment and the Ellipse, where the helicopter had been temporarily operating while construction proceeded at the White House. Investigators noted that the first transmission was never received and the second arrived broken and unreadable. Aviation radios depend on a relatively unobstructed path between antennas, and the geometry of the Ellipse clearly degraded that path.
In response, the FAA said it “took immediate action,” including relocating an antenna to improve signal reach between DCA controllers and Marine One pilots, and reviewing the associated procedures. White House spokesperson Kush Desai told CNN on Thursday that “Marine One flights are piloted by the finest aviators in the world, and the White House maintains the utmost confidence in these patriots and other security officials who are responsible for ensuring the President’s safety.” Desai added that although the President was at no point in harm’s way during the August 4 momentary loss of separation, the White House continues coordinating with military, FAA, and other security personnel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did controllers rely on other aircraft to relay messages?
When direct line-of-sight between the tower antenna and the helicopter is blocked—by terrain, buildings, or temporary operating locations—standard VHF radio signals cannot propagate. Controllers then ask nearby aircraft to act as human repeaters, passing the message along until the intended recipient hears it.
What changed after the August 4 incident?
The FAA relocated an antenna to restore adequate coverage over the Ellipse and reviewed its notification procedures. Despite that fix, Thursday’s audio shows the problem persisted, suggesting additional engineering or procedural work may still be needed.
Was the President in danger during either event?
The White House stated the President was at no point in harm’s way. The August 4 event produced a momentary loss of separation with a commercial jet; Thursday’s event was resolved before takeoff and did not involve another aircraft in the immediate vicinity.
