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“Pay attention!” the controller shouted several times, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
“I’m Sure You Can See Who It Is”
The back-and-forth grew more dramatic as the controller warned the Spirit pilot that traffic was only “eight miles” off the wing. “I’m sure you can see who it is,” the controller added, before describing Air Force One unmistakably: “I’ll keep an eye out for him, he’s white and blue.”
Every directive had to be repeated twice, reportedly part of heightened safety measures whenever the president is in the sky. At one point, the voice on the line can be heard saying: “Pay attention! Get off the iPad.”
WATCH:
Spirit Airlines Response
After the alarming reports spread online, Spirit Airlines attempted to downplay the danger. A spokesperson insisted their pilot “followed procedures and Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions while en route to Boston (BOS) and landed uneventfully at BOS.”
Radar data suggests that the two aircraft came within 11 miles of each other—an uncomfortably narrow distance given one of those planes was carrying the President of the United States. Flight 1300 was traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Boston at the time of the incident.
A High-Security State Visit
President Trump’s arrival in the U.K. was already expected to draw intense scrutiny and heavy security. The visit, which included ceremonial events with King Charles and the Royal Family, was billed as the largest state reception of its kind in recent history.
More than 1,600 officers were deployed across London to prepare for potential unrest. Predictably, anti-Trump agitators attempted to cause disruptions, including projecting images of Trump’s mugshot and a photo of him with Jeffrey Epstein on Windsor Castle walls before the president’s arrival.
Building the “Special Relationship”
Despite leftist protests, the state visit carried major geopolitical and economic significance. Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to use the occasion to highlight the U.K.’s “special relationship” with the United States. Both Trump and Starmer touted fresh commitments from global technology firms promising $42 billion in new investments for the U.K., with similar investments planned for the U.S. during Trump’s second term.
Bottom Line
A near collision with Air Force One underscores just how precarious presidential security can be—even in the skies. While Spirit Airlines claims procedures were followed, recordings tell a different story: exasperated controllers desperately working to keep the skies safe for America’s Commander-in-Chief.
This “close encounter” serves as a stark reminder of the stakes whenever President Trump takes to the air. One moment of negligence—one pilot “on the iPad” instead of on the instruments—could have sparked an international tragedy.
