Bloomberg reported on September 18 that a commercial Spirit Airlines flight came into close proximity with Air Force One as both aircraft traversed New York’s congested Long Island airspace. Sources described the presidential Boeing 747 and Spirit Airlines Flight 1300 (A321, Fort Lauderdale–Boston) at similar altitudes with converging tracks, prompting an air traffic controller to issue repeated course-change instructions and admonish the crew to “stay focused.”
The FAA subsequently reviewed related social media content and stated that prescribed separation was maintained; Spirit Airlines confirmed the flight followed air traffic control directives and landed safely in Boston, emphasizing that safety remains its priority. The episode underscores operational risk and the need for vigilant airspace management and regulatory oversight across commercial and government flight operations.