{"id":113521,"date":"2025-09-17T23:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=113521"},"modified":"2025-09-18T01:15:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T19:45:14","slug":"atc-shouts-at-spirit-airlines-pilots-after-close-call-with-us-presidents-aircraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/17\/atc-shouts-at-spirit-airlines-pilots-after-close-call-with-us-presidents-aircraft\/","title":{"rendered":"ATC Shouts at Spirit Pilots as They Comes Close With US President’s Aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FLORIDA-<\/strong> A Spirit Airlines (NK)<\/a> flight came perilously close to Air Force One over New York airspace on September 16, 2025. Air traffic controllers issued repeated commands to ensure safe separation during the president’s international journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident highlights the heightened protocols for presidential flights. Controllers prioritized caution, but preliminary reviews confirm all safety standards remained intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ATC
US Air Force One; Photo-redlegsfan21 Flickr; Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Spirit Airlines’ Close Call with Air Force One<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to OMAAT<\/a>, the event unfolded in the morning over Long Island, where Air Force One<\/a> transported President Trump and his entourage toward London Stansted Airport (STN).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Boeing 747 required expanded separation buffers compared to commercial traffic, as both aircraft operated at similar altitudes and converging paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spirit Airlines (NK) flight NK1300, an Airbus A321 with registration N687NK, departed Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) bound for Boston (BOS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This daily route covers about 1,200 miles and typically lasts 3 hours. The flight began its descent from 37,000 feet when the proximity alert triggered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York Center air traffic controllers detected the risk and initiated vectoring procedures. They instructed the Spirit pilots to execute a 20-degree right turn to divert from the traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sequence of transmissions revealed escalating urgency, as the pilots initially failed to acknowledge the directive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first command stated: “Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right, vectors traffic in descent.” Without response, the controller repeated: “Pay attention, Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third attempt intensified: “Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right now.” Finally, the fourth transmission demanded: “Spirit Wings 1300, turn 20 degrees right immediately.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only after this did the pilots reply and comply. The controller then affirmed: “Pay attention!” Moments later, he updated: “Spirit 1300, traffic\u2019s off your left wing, by eight miles, 747, I\u2019m sure you can see who it is, keep an eye out for him, white and blue.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As handover to the next sector occurred, the controller concluded: “Pay attention, get off the iPad.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here is that audio:

pic.twitter.com\/yCxS9wnpi3<\/a><\/p>— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) September 17, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>