Marine One Loses Contact Again Same Day NTSB Blamed Communication Failures for August Near-Miss

On August 27, 2026 — the same day the NTSB published its preliminary report blaming communication failures for an August 4 loss of separation between Marine One and a regional jet — air traffic controllers briefly lost contact with the presidential helicopter again. The FAA had relocated an antenna and changed procedures after the first incident. The Ellipse departure site, used since May due to White House construction, remains a variable worth watching.