NTSB: Marine One Comm Failure Preceded Airliner Close Call
Photo: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Hunter Helis / Public domain — via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · source
The National Transportation Safety Board reports that a Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King operating as Marine One experienced a near-miss with a commercial airliner after departing without establishing communication with air traffic control. Radio issues prevented the military flight crew from checking in with controllers prior to takeoff while transporting the president earlier this month. This incident serves as a stark reminder for all aviators about the critical dangers of operating in congested airspace during a loss of communication.
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While VIP flight movements typically enjoy a highly coordinated airspace security bubble, a recent close call involving Marine One demonstrates that even the most high-profile operations remain vulnerable to standard aviation hazards. According to investigators, the helicopter crew took off without positive controller contact following radio difficulties, placing their Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King in dangerous proximity to a passenger jet. For civilian pilots and flight instructors, this event highlights the absolute necessity of rigorous lost communication procedures. Whether you are flying a trainer aircraft or transporting the commander in chief, entering busy terminal airspace without radar services or controller sequencing creates an immediate collision risk. The National Transportation Safety Board's probe will likely examine the specific technical faults that disabled the radios, but the human factors involved will be of greater interest to the training community. Investigators will want to understand the crew resource management decisions that led the military pilots to continue their departure instead of aborting or troubleshooting on the ground. Moving forward, the aviation community should watch for any updated military directives regarding VIP transport protocols during technical anomalies. This high-stakes near-miss underscores that fundamental principles of see-and-avoid and strict adherence to communication requirements are universally essential for maintaining separation in our national airspace system.