Pilots on Spirit Airlines Flight 1300, en route from Fort Lauderdale to Boston on Tuesday, were reprimanded by air traffic control for flying a little too close to Air Force One as it carried President Trump to the United Kingdom.
Bloomberg reports that a New York-based control tower noticed that the planes flying over Long Island had maintained similar altitudes and "converging flight paths."
Though the flights were still several miles apart and did not seem in imminent danger, a traffic controller in audio posted to social media requested an alteration in the Spirit flight path by 20 degrees.
A lack of response led to significant frustration in the tower and eventually a reprimand for the pilots.
“Pay attention, Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right,” the controller is heard advising. “Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees RIGHT NOW.”
Getting no acknowledgment from the pilots, the ATC repeated, "Spirit Wings 1300, 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”! 😂
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) September 17, 2025
Tip via @xJonNYC
Audio via @liveatc & Tracking via @ADSBex pic.twitter.com/sLJ0rip8sG
READ MORE: Sean Duffy Just Got a New Job That Is Out of This World
The controller, as heard on the audio, points out whose plane he's trying to direct the Spirit flight away from and why they might want to pay attention.
“Spirit 1300, traffic’s off your left wing by 6 miles, or 8 miles. 747. I’m sure you can see who it is,” he said, referring to the President's plane. “I’ll keep an eye out for him, he’s white and blue.”
“I got to talk to you twice every time, Spirit 1300. Pay attention! Get off the iPad!” he said as the clip ended.
A Spirit Airlines spokesman defended the pilots in a statement to CBS News and reiterated that the planes were never in danger of colliding.
"Safety is always our top priority," the spokesman said. "Spirit Airlines flight 1300 followed procedures and Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions while en route to Boston and landed uneventfully (in Boston)."
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump has just touched down outside of London for his second state visit to the UK
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 16, 2025
British media is SUPER excited to watch Trump come in
“James James let me interrupt you! This is Air Force One landing right now!”
GUARANTEE they didn’t do this for Biden! pic.twitter.com/yuxSMA7yHJ
The FAA also issued a statement quelling concerns by saying the "aircraft maintained the required separation."
Still, the controller clearly wanted to see them alter their path slightly. And if the pilots weren't listening, what would have happened if the distance between the two planes had been less dramatic?
President Trump, in July, praised Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for his efforts in handling the country's transportation needs, including "creating a state-of-the-art Air Traffic Control system."
Those systems only work if the pilots are paying attention.
President Trump was greeted in a big way upon arriving in the United Kingdom, with the Royal Family rolling out the red carpet and providing a royal carriage ride under full ceremonial guard.
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