Pilots of a Spirit jet were chewed out for flying too close to Air Force One — with President Trump on board — as the two planes flew over Long Island.
The crew flying Spirit Airlines Flight 1300, traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Boston, were scolded by an air traffic controller Tuesday after they tried warning them they were rapidly closing in on the president’s plane altitude and flight path as it was en route to the United Kingdom, Bloomberg reported.
The bizarre back-and-forth exchange was captured in an audio clip first shared on Bluesky by @JonNYC, according to the outlet.
A Spirit Airlines flight was ordered to steer clear of Air Force One over Long Island as the president was en route to the United Kingdom. ¿@xjonnyc.bsky.social¿“Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right,” the air traffic controller said, according to recordings from liveatc.net.
“Pay attention, Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right. Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right, now. Spirit wings 1300, turn 20 degrees right, immediately.”
After a brief delay, the pilots acknowledged the transmission and began making the adjustments.
However, the air traffic controller reprimanded them again to “pay attention” to whom they were getting close to.
“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 controller said.
Audibly frustrated, the controller delivered one final tongue-lashing: “Pay attention! Get off the iPad.”
Air Force One was never in real danger, despite the dramatic exchange between the air traffic controller and the pilots, Bloomberg reported.
The Spirit flight continued without further incident and landed safely in Boston.
A Spirit spokesman told CBS News following the incident that “safety is always our top priority.”
An air traffic controller reprimanded Spirit Airlines Flight 1300 on Tuesday for closing in on Air Force One’s altitude and flight path. Getty Images
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump are greeted by the Viscount Hood, lord-in-waiting (center right), as they arrive at Stansted Airport near London on Sept. 16, 2025. AP“Spirit Airlines Flight 1300 followed procedures and Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions while en route to Boston and landed uneventfully (in Boston),” the spokesman said.
President Trump and first lady Melania safely touched down at London Stansted Airport on Tuesday after taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Trump is scheduled to meet with King Charles III at Windsor Castle before meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday.
