NTSB says Marine One helicopter crew failed to reach air traffic control before safety incident

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said the crew of Marine One, the military helicopter carrying President Donald Trump, failed to reach air traffic controllers before departing after a safety incident on Aug. 4. The NTSB said the Marine One crew tried at least twice to provide the required three-minute notice of departure but faced communications issues. The incident raised questions about why a passenger jet departing from Reagan Washington National Airport was allowed to take off while Marine One was nearby, when commercial traffic is typically halted. Reuters reports the board’s findings were released Thursday, in a statement tied to the incident.