Tempers began to fray among air traffic control (ATC) staff after a Spirit Airlines pilot appeared slow to acknowledge a directive to move away from Air Force One over the US mainland.
On September 16, 2025, US President Donald Trump was flying to the UK on a state visit after departing Washington DC on the Boeing VC-25A, also known as Air Force One.
Around the same time, Spirit Airlines flight 1300 was travelling over Long Island after departing Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Airport (FLL) at 08:10.
Concerned about the proximity of the aircraft, air traffic controllers instructed the Spirit Airline Airbus A321, registered N687NK, to turn right and away from Air Force One.
In recordings shared on social media an air traffic controller can be heard telling the Spirit flight crew to “turn 20 degrees right immediately”.
AIR FORCE ONE and Spirit Airlines flt NK1300 got too close over Long Island, New York for Air Traffic Control and get’s yelled at including getting told “GET OFF THE IPAD”! 😂
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) September 17, 2025
Tip via @xJonNYC
Audio via @liveatc & Tracking via @ADSBex pic.twitter.com/sLJ0rip8sG
With the crew seemingly not hearing the instruction, air traffic controllers were forced to repeat themselves multiple times until they finally received a response.
As tempers began to fray an air traffic controller can be heard telling the Spirit Airlines pilot to “pay attention”.
At another stage in the audio a clearly frustrated controller can be heard saying “I gotta talk to you twice every time” and “pay attention, get off the iPad”.
“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,” an air traffic controller said.
In a statement from Spirit Airlines, a spokesperson said: “Spirit Airlines flight 1300 followed procedures and Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions while en route to Boston and landed uneventfully.”
Feb. 16 2020
— キャスバル✨Casval (@ayu3_BLUE) February 17, 2020
スピリット航空 @SpiritAirlines
A321-200 N687NK #PHX #PhoenixSkyHarbor #SpiritAirlines #A321 pic.twitter.com/5FewPLZA2y
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that a “preliminary investigation shows aircraft maintained the required separation”.
It appears at their closest the two aircraft were eight miles apart.
5 comments
Spirit Airlines – present on the flight deck… but only in spirit. The new model for AI flown aircraft.
That controller needs to take a chill pill and a vacation. 8 miles separation is a lot! The situation was simply not critical. His job is to make sure the pilots know what other traffic is around them. A simple “ Spirit 1300 you have eastbound traffic at 9 o’clock, 8 miles, climbing to 320, on a converging path. Turn right 20 degrees and maintain 330.” That’s a 10 second call that gives Spirit traffic info and the reason for the turn; when, in fact, he didn’t need to turn anyway. They were separated by 8 miles and a thousand feet which is perfectly safe and legal (assuming Spirit was also RVSM – AF-1 definitely is). The lack of an immediate response from Spirit is likely because they were confirming a visual on the 747, and making sure it was the intended call out. Talking to ATC takes second place to flying the aircraft, but some controllers may sometimes forget that; unfortunately some pilots do too! As a former Air Defense Controller handling multiple flights of aircraft, none of which were on a standard flight plan, and all trying to get real up close and personal, creating a fur ball, my job was to merge the blips! Pretty exciting that, but you learn quickly that aircraft can’t collide if they are at different altitudes. Of the three near misses I’ve experienced, all were controller induced, and two were due to the fact that the controller didn’t bother to turn his radar feed on because it made the screen “too messy”. I’m not saying that I do not trust any controller with my life, but …. well yes, I am saying that I DO NOT TRUST any controller with my life, and no other pilot should either. Over my 44 year flying career, including stints observing ATC in the Centers and RAPCON, I’ve noticed that some controllers, not the majority by any means but a few, get waaaay too excited over not much; and when they do, they become much less attentive, lose situational awareness, are much less effective, and consequently much less safe. Perhaps their training should include some deep breathing, relaxation exercises. It takes less time than a 10 second radio call.
I totally disagree. When it is Air Force One, the surrounding should pay extra attention. I think the ATC actors appropriately.
John T here is absolutely right. If the separation is as per norms then simple info without getting excited and sarcastic is best. And yes the plane is more important than anything else!
I disagree that the ATC reacted improperly. That may be acceptable with most aircraft, but NOT AF-1. I would think an ATC, predominately working DOD flights, especially, after 9/11, would understand the gravity of the situation when dealing with POTUS. This was an absentee airline pilot, not some city cab driver. The ATC was absolutely correct to sternly reprimand the cockpit. I’m glad to hear there are still conscientious individuals working in the transportation industry. The ATC’s off the cuff comments may divert a future tragedy.