Spirit Airlines Flight Diverted Near Air Force One
A Spirit Airlines Airbus A321 was instructed to veer away from Air Force One while flying over Long Island during a Fort Lauderdale to Boston service. The Spirit aircraft reportedly approached within 11 miles of the Boeing VC-25A, which was conducting a presidential flight with Donald Trump headed to the UK.
Incident Details
| Airline | Spirit Airlines |
|---|---|
| Flight Number | NK1300 |
| Departure Airport | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) |
| Destination Airport | Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) |
According to Flightradar24, Spirit Airlines flight NK1300 departed at 08:10 and made its way north along the coastline. The situation became critical when the flight was instructed by air traffic control to turn away as it neared Air Force One’s path, with a CBS News report highlighting a closest separation of 11 miles.
Spirit Airlines responded by stating, “Safety is always our top priority. Spirit Airlines flight 1300 followed procedures and Air Traffic Control instructions while en route to Boston and landed uneventfully.”
Air Force One’s Mission
The Boeing 747, modified as Air Force One, was transporting President Donald Trump to the UK for an official visit. Departure was recorded at 09:57 from Joint Base Andrews, with an arrival at London Stansted Airport scheduled around 21:07 local time. The incident over Long Island occurred at a relatively early stage of this transatlantic flight.
Air Traffic Control Interaction
The tense exchange between Spirit’s flight crew and air traffic controllers included a final stern reminder to “pay attention [and] get off the iPad.” Despite increased urgency, FAA safety margins were reportedly maintained.
Operational Continuity
After the incident, flight NK1300 completed its descent from 37,000 feet, landing at Boston Logan International Airport at 11:03. In subsequent operations, the 7.5-year-old Airbus A321, registration N687NK, completed additional flights, including a trip from Boston to Orlando and a round trip to Columbus.
