On Tuesday, a critical incident unfolded over Long Island, New York, when air traffic controllers urgently instructed the pilots of Spirit Airlines flight 1300 to divert their path to avoid a potential conflict with Air Force One. The Spirit flight was en route from Fort Lauderdale to Boston while Air Force One carried President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and several officials for a state visit to the United Kingdom.
During the flight, an air traffic controller repeatedly instructed Spirit Airlines flight 1300 to turn 20 degrees to the right. Recorded communications from liveatc.net revealed the urgency of the situation: "Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right. Pay attention, Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right." The controller's commands became increasingly urgent, emphasizing, "Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right, immediately."
Preliminary flight data from flightradar24.com indicated that the Spirit Airbus A321 and Air Force One were flying parallel to each other at an altitude of eight miles apart. The two aircraft were just 11 miles apart at their closest approach, raising concerns among air traffic controllers about their proximity. After acknowledging the instructions, the Spirit pilots received a follow-up warning: "Pay attention. Spirit 1300 traffic off your left wing by six miles – or eight miles, 747. I'm sure you can see who it is. Keep an eye out for him — he's white and blue."
A spokesperson for Spirit Airlines later stated that safety is always their top priority. The airline confirmed that flight 1300 followed all procedures and adhered to air traffic control (ATC) instructions throughout the flight, ultimately landing safely in Boston without incident. While the responses from the Spirit pilots were partially inaudible due to static interference in the ATC audio, the FAA noted that the aircraft maintained the required separation, despite getting closer than controllers would have preferred.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement indicating that their preliminary investigation showed that the aircraft maintained the necessary separation during the flight. Following the incident, controllers humorously remarked, "Pay attention. Get off the iPad," highlighting the seriousness of the situation while also attempting to lighten the mood.
This incident captured public attention and was first reported by an aviation tracker on social media, identified as @xjonnyc. CBS News has reached out to the White House for further comments regarding the event. The collaborative report was contributed by Ryan Sprouse, Katie Krupnik, and Sarah Ploss, emphasizing the importance of air traffic safety and the rigorous protocols followed by commercial airlines.
