USSEP 18, 2025

“Pay Attention”: Spirit Pilots Scolded For Flying Too Close To Trump’s Air Force One

Pilots of a Spirit Airlines flight received several warnings from air traffic controllers on Tuesday after their plane flew too close to Air Force One while U.S. President Donald Trump was on board.

The incident happened in the skies over Long Island as Spirit Airlines Flight 1300 was traveling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Boston, Massachusetts.

Highlights

Spirit Airlines Flight 1300 flew too close to Air Force One carrying President Trump over Long Island, prompting multiple warnings from air traffic control.
Controllers repeatedly ordered Spirit pilots to turn 20 degrees right, scolding them to 'pay attention' and 'get off the iPad' during tense communications.
FAA confirmed both planes maintained the required separation distance despite the near-approach incident during Air Force One's trip to the UK.

At the same time, Air Force One was flying toward the United Kingdom, carrying the president and First Lady Melania Trump.

Spirit Airlines pilots received several warnings for flying too close to Air Force One

Image credits: Kevin Carter/Getty Images

According to audio recordings shared online, controllers repeatedly ordered the Spirit pilots to turn away from the president’s plane.

“Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right,” one air traffic controller said, according to LiveATC audio. After five seconds of no response, the controller repeated the instruction.

“Pay attention, Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right.”

After two more attempts, “Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right, now. Spirit wings 1300 turn 20 degrees right, immediately,” the Spirit pilots acknowledged the call.

Their responses were difficult to hear over the static sounds of the recording, the BBC noted. It is not clear why the pilots did not respond to the instructions the first time around, but they are trained to make flying the airplane their first priority, over responding to communications.

Controllers reminded the Spirit crew to stay alert to the traffic near them. One controller told the pilots, “Pay attention. Spirit 1300 traffic off your left wing by six mi— or eight miles, 747. I'm sure you can see who it is. ... Keep an eye out for him — he's white and blue.”

The reference was to Air Force One’s well-known paint scheme.

Spirit Airlines pilots were told to "get off the iPad"

Image credits: Department of the Air Force

Then came the most pointed rebuke, as the controller scolded the Airline pilot for not acknowledging the instructions. “I gotta talk to you twice every time. Pay attention, get off the iPad,” the controller said.

iPads are a routine device used by airline pilots to view navigational charts, manuals, checklists, performance data, and weather.

The audio of the tense back-and-forth was first posted on Bluesky by user @JonNYC and later circulated widely. It came from LiveATC.net, a site that streams and records air traffic control communications.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later said the planes kept the required separation distance.

Spirit Airlines released a statement after the incident. They said the flight “followed procedures and Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions while en route to Boston (BOS) and landed uneventfully at BOS.”

“Safety is always our top priority,” the airline added.

Image credits: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Air Force One had departed from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland earlier that day.

President Trump and the first lady landed safely at London Stansted Airport on Tuesday evening.

The president’s visit to the United Kingdom included a scheduled meeting with King Charles III at Windsor Castle, followed by talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.