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WASHINGTON — <\/span>The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating why a plane was allowed to take off as President Donald Trump’s helicopter was approaching Reagan National Airport Tuesday afternoon in what appears to be a violation of safety procedures<\/a> put in place after last year’s midair collision<\/a> near that busy Washington D.C. airport. <\/p>\n The incident occurred as Marine One left the White House for Andrews Air Force Base with the president aboard for the first leg of a West Coast trip. A commercial jet took off at the same time. The FAA decided after 67 people died<\/a> on Jan. 29, 2025 when an airliner collided<\/a> with an Army Black Hawk helicopter that all takeoffs and landings at Reagan would be halted anytime a helicopter passes by the airport.<\/p>\n The airplane that took off Tuesday was climbing above Marine One as the helicopter approached, so the two aircraft were not on a collision course. <\/p>\n The FAA said in a statement that \u201cthere was a momentary loss of separation after which the aircraft continued to move away from one another.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cThe air traffic controller was in contact with both the commercial pilot and Marine One pilot during the loss of separation,\u201d the FAA said.<\/p>\n The White House emphasized that President Trump was not in danger during the incident.<\/p>\n \u201cMarine One flights are piloted by some of the best aviators in the world, and at no point was the President in harm\u2019s way,\u201d said White House spokesman, Kush Desai.<\/p>\n And the Marine Corps defended the actions of their helicopter pilots.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were no \u2018close calls\u2019 with the routine Marine One movement,\u201d Tuesday, said Marine Corps spokesman, Capt. Jacob Sugg in an email. \u201cWashington National Tower did not delay the helicopter crew, ask them to hold, or otherwise alter their flight profile. To the contrary, the ATC team approved the requested route and provided timely and appropriate traffic information.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wall Street Journal first reported the incident.<\/p>\n The airspace near the White House and Reagan is heavily congested with military and commercial aircraft.<\/p>\n