Tempers began to fray among air traffic control (ATC) staff after a Spirit Airlines pilot appeared slow to acknowledge a directive to move away from Air Force One over the US mainland.
On September 16, 2025, US President Donald Trump was flying to the UK on a state visit after departing Washington DC on the Boeing VC-25A, also known as Air Force One.
Around the same time, Spirit Airlines flight 1300 was travelling over Long Island after departing Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Airport (FLL) at 08:10.
Concerned about the proximity of the aircraft, air traffic controllers instructed the Spirit Airline Airbus A321, registered N687NK, to turn right and away from Air Force One.
In recordings shared on social media an air traffic controller can be heard telling the Spirit flight crew to “turn 20 degrees right immediately”.
AIR FORCE ONE and Spirit Airlines flt NK1300 got too close over Long Island, New York for Air Traffic Control and get’s yelled at including getting told “GET OFF THE IPAD”! 😂
Tip via @xJonNYC
Audio via @liveatc & Tracking via @ADSBex pic.twitter.com/sLJ0rip8sG— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) September 17, 2025
With the crew seemingly not hearing the instruction, air traffic controllers were forced to repeat themselves multiple times until they finally received a response.
As tempers began to fray an air traffic controller can be heard telling the Spirit Airlines pilot to “pay attention”.
At another stage in the audio a clearly frustrated controller can be heard saying “I gotta talk to you twice every time” and “pay attention, get off the iPad”.
“Spirit 1300 traffic off your left wing by six miles or eight miles, 747. I’m sure you can see who it is. Keep an eye out for him, he’s white and blue,” an air traffic controller said.
In a statement from Spirit Airlines, a spokesperson said: “Spirit Airlines flight 1300 followed procedures and Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions while en route to Boston and landed uneventfully.”
Feb. 16 2020
スピリット航空 @SpiritAirlines
A321-200 N687NK #PHX #PhoenixSkyHarbor #SpiritAirlines #A321 pic.twitter.com/5FewPLZA2y— キャスバル✨Casval (@ayu3_BLUE) February 17, 2020
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that a “preliminary investigation shows aircraft maintained the required separation”.
It appears at their closest the two aircraft were eight miles apart.