FAA says antenna relocated after Marine One safety incident

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency relocated an antenna and changed a procedure after a Marine One helicopter carrying President Donald Trump came too close to a passenger jet departing Reagan Washington National Airport. The Aug. 4 incident has prompted scrutiny over why commercial traffic was allowed to depart while Marine One was nearby, a time when air traffic is typically halted. Bedford told reporters he is confident the communications issue has been resolved. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. The FAA also referenced broader modernization efforts after a Jan. 2025 mixed helicopter/jet crash near the airport killed 67 people, leading to a federal ban. Separately, SMART is planned with testing starting Sept. 14.