White House construction cited in Marine One radio near-miss with regional jet

A preliminary report from the US National Transportation Safety Board points to White House construction work as a possible factor behind repeated radio communication failures involving Marine One, the presidential helicopter, according to the New York Times, which cited the document.

The issue traces back to an early August close encounter between Marine One and an Embraer E170 regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Afterward, the Federal Aviation Administration changed communication procedures and moved an antenna to try to fix the problem.

The changes did not hold. On August 27, air traffic controllers again struggled to hear Marine One, this time before departure. Crew members tried to relay important information to the tower, but the controller could not receive the transmission directly. Other helicopters in the area passed the message along, relay-style, until direct contact was finally established. Other traffic was held, and Marine One departed without incident.

The preliminary findings point to a likely cause inside the White House grounds. Construction of a new ballroom has forced Marine One to depart from the Ellipse, a park south of the White House, instead of its usual departure point on the South Lawn.

Technicians reportedly found that this temporary location lacks a reliable radio link to relevant air traffic control points, a gap that may explain the recurring communication breakdowns. The report does not say when normal departure operations might resume.