Spirit Airlines pilots ignore warnings as Air Force One flies in vicinity
- Air traffic controllers directed Spirit Airlines flight 1300 to modify its flight path while Air Force One was nearby to ensure safety.
- The Spirit pilot failed to respond promptly to repeated warnings from air traffic control, raising concerns about attentiveness.
- The incident emphasizes the critical nature of communication and awareness among pilots, especially in scenarios involving prominent figures.
On a Tuesday morning, a Spirit Airlines flight traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Boston found itself sharing airspace with Air Force One, which was transporting President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to the United Kingdom. The incident occurred over Long Island, where air traffic controllers, concerned about the proximity of the two aircraft, repeatedly instructed Spirit Flight 1300 to turn 20 degrees to the right. Despite this urgent advice, the Spirit pilots did not respond promptly, leading the controllers to express their frustration on several occasions. At one point, they admonished the pilot to 'pay attention' and even quipped about the pilot being distracted with an iPad, highlighting the seriousness of the situation, especially given the presence of the President's aircraft nearby. After several attempts, the pilot acknowledged the direction to turn and subsequently kept a safe distance from Air Force One. Notably, the two planes came as close as 11 miles, which was within acceptable safety limits set by the Federal Aviation Administration, albeit closer than air traffic control preferred. Following the incident, Spirit Airlines released a statement emphasizing that safety is their top priority and that the flight followed all necessary procedures and ATC instructions, landing without further issues in Boston. This event raised concerns about pilot attentiveness and the importance of maintaining communication standards in the cockpit, especially when operating in proximity to high-profile aircraft.