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Radio Fix Prevents Marine One, Envoy Air Near Miss

August 28, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

Marine One experienced radio communication failure at DCA.
A radio equipment relocation resolved the issue.
The incident occurred on August 4, 2026, with Envoy Air Flight 3742.
Adequate line-of-sight radio coverage was restored.

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Strategic Implications

This incident may indicate the need for enhanced communication protocols between presidential helicopters and air traffic control. The simple fix suggests that infrastructure adjustments could mitigate similar safety risks, which could have broader implications for helicopter operations in densely populated areas.

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What Happened

Simple Antenna Move Resolves Presidential Helicopter Communication Issue

A radio communication failure between Marine One and air traffic controllers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on August 4, 2026, prompted a simple yet effective solution: relocating the radio equipment to the top of the control tower. The incident, which involved a close proximity between Marine One and an Envoy Air Embraer E170, was resolved after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made the necessary adjustments. The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report found that inadequate line-of-sight radio coverage was the cause of the issue. This incident was first reported by AeroTime.

Source | Originally Published: August 28, 2026

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