NTSB: Controllers warned Marine One pilots before takeoff

NTSB preliminary reports detail radio-communication failures before Marine One and a departing Envoy Air jet nearly collided near Reagan National Airport on Aug. 4, prompting scrutiny of how airspace is managed when the president is in the vicinity. Marine One departed from the Ellipse as Envoy Flight 3742 lifted off, with the two aircraft coming within about two miles north of the airport and 700 feet of vertical separation. The Marine One tower contact attempts failed initially and an unreadable second attempt was traced to limited line-of-sight radio coverage, linked to the relocation of the Reagan National frequency after White House construction. An established three-minute pre-departure contact between Marine One and FAA/Washington-area controllers exists to halt departures if needed, but officials say it did not function as intended on that day. FAA officials stressed that no injuries occurred and neither aircraft was damaged, and improvements—including moving the radio frequency equipment—are being pursued while ensuring the president’s safety remains the highest priority. The investigation is ongoing as the NTSB works to confirm exact distances and evaluate potential policy changes for communications near the White House complex.