ATC Shouts at Spirit Pilots After Close Call With US President’s Aircraft

FLORIDA- A Spirit Airlines (NK) flight came perilously close to Air Force One over New York airspace on September 16, 2025. Air traffic controllers issued repeated commands to ensure safe separation during the president’s international journey.

The incident highlights the heightened protocols for presidential flights. Controllers prioritized caution, but preliminary reviews confirm all safety standards remained intact.

US Air Force One; Photo-redlegsfan21 Flickr; Wikimedia Commons

Spirit Airlines Close Call with Air Force One

According to OMAAT, the event unfolded in the morning over Long Island, where Air Force One transported President Trump and his entourage toward London Stansted Airport (STN).

The Boeing 747 required expanded separation buffers compared to commercial traffic, as both aircraft operated at similar altitudes and converging paths.

Spirit Airlines (NK) flight NK 1300, an Airbus A321 with registration N687NK, departed Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) bound for Boston (BOS).

This daily route covers about 1,200 miles and typically lasts 3 hours. The flight began its descent from 37,000 feet when the proximity alert triggered.

New York Center air traffic controllers detected the risk and initiated vectoring procedures. They instructed the Spirit pilots to execute a 20 degree right turn to divert from the traffic.

The sequence of transmissions revealed escalating urgency, as the pilots initially failed to acknowledge the directive.

The first command stated: “Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right, vectors traffic in descent.” Without response, the controller repeated: “Pay attention, Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right.”

The third attempt intensified: “Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right now.” Finally, the fourth transmission demanded: “Spirit Wings 1300, turn 20 degrees right immediately.”

Only after this did the pilots reply and comply. The controller then affirmed: “Pay attention!” Moments later, he updated: “Spirit 1300, traffic’s off your left wing, by eight miles, 747, I’m sure you can see who it is, keep an eye out for him, white and blue.”

As handover to the next sector occurred, the controller concluded: “Pay attention, get off the iPad.”

This interaction, captured in real-time audio from sources like LiveATC, lasted mere seconds but underscored the precision required in busy airspace. The controller’s rapid-fire instructions may have limited response windows, potentially contributing to the delay.

Flight tracking data from platforms like Flightradar24 shows the aircraft executed the turn near Long Beach, east of New York City, maintaining parallel paths at the required distance.

Safety Protocols and Special Treatment

Air Force One receives enhanced separation standards under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines, often exceeding the standard 5 mile lateral or 1,000 foot vertical minima for commercial flights.

These measures protect the president and ensure national security during transit.

In this case, the planes achieved 8 miles of separation, well above thresholds that would activate Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) alerts.

The FAA’s preliminary investigation, as reported by multiple outlets including CBS, confirmed no violations occurred.

Spirit Airlines (NK) emphasized that its crew followed all procedures and landed uneventfully at Boston (BOS).

Possible explanations for the pilots’ delayed response include routine cabin activities, such as one pilot using the lavatory while the other handled a communication.

The short timeframe, just before descent, aligns with high workload phases where distractions like electronic devices could factor in.

The controller’s reference to the iPad highlights ongoing concerns about pilot use of personal electronics, though no evidence confirms this here.

Photo- Kentaro Iemoto from Tokyo, Japan; Wikimedia Commons

Implications for Air Traffic Management

Busy corridors like those managed by New York Center handle thousands of flights daily, amplifying the need for vigilant monitoring.

Incidents like this, while minor, reinforce training on prompt communication and frequency etiquette. Controllers balance urgency with allowing response time, but the audio suggests back to back calls may have overlapped.

Spirit Airlines (NK) operates as an ultra low-cost carrier with a fleet of efficient Airbus aircraft, focusing on domestic routes. This event draws attention to operational challenges in shared airspace, especially near high profile flights.

No political ramifications have emerged, and both aircraft completed their journeys without further issues, Air Force One arrived at London (STN) on schedule, carrying President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and their team for a state visit.

The FAA continues to review such encounters to refine protocols, ensuring seamless integration of commercial and special missions.

Aviation experts note that while the drama makes compelling audio, it exemplifies the system’s robustness in preventing actual risks.

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News

The post ATC Shouts at Spirit Pilots After Close Call With US President’s Aircraft appeared first on Aviation A2Z.