American authorities investigate Trump’s helicopter approaching a passenger plane too closely

US authorities are investigating whether a military helicopter carrying Donald Trump came too close to a passenger plane over Washington this week, with the White House confirming on Wednesday that the president was not in danger.

A report published by The New York Times, citing two people familiar with the matter, stated that Marine One, the helicopter used to transport the president, came within less than a mile of a passenger plane over the US capital on Tuesday, following unclear communications with air traffic controllers.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was “investigating a reported incident involving a loss of safe separation distance between Marine One and a commercial aircraft departing from Washington on August 4.”

White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Agence France-Presse, “Marine One is flown by some of the best pilots in the world, and the president was in no danger whatsoever.”

The US Federal Aviation Administration stated that “the air traffic controller was in contact with both the commercial pilot and the Marine One pilot during the loss of safe separation distance.”

It added, “The president was never in danger. We are continuing to review the incident and will take any appropriate corrective actions based on our findings.”

The Federal Aviation Administration tightened safety procedures around Washington’s airport following a fatal collision in January 2025 between a passenger plane and a Black Hawk military helicopter, which killed 67 people.