Air traffic control (ATC) operators admonished a Spirit Airlines pilot Tuesday for flying too close to Air Force One, President Trump’s official plane.

Spirit flight 1300 was en route to Boston Logan International Airport from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The communication with ATC occurred while the two planes were flying over Long Island, N.Y. 

“Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right, vectors, traffic in descent. Say intentions, Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right. Spirit 1300, turn 20 degrees right, now. Spirit wings 1300, turn 20 degrees right immediately,” the controller said, according to audio from air traffic control site ATC.net obtained via flight tracking site Flightradar24.com.

Once the pilot acknowledged the directive, the controller said to “pay attention.” 

“Spirit 1300, traffic’s off your left wing by 8 miles, [Boeing] 747. I’m sure you can see who it is,” the controller said, referring to Air Force One. Roughly two minutes later, the controller said, “I’ve got to talk to you twice every time,” to the Spirit flight.

“Pay attention. Get off the iPad,” the controller added.

According to data Flightradar24 shared with The Hill, the two planes were within roughly eight miles of each other at around 2:24 p.m. EDT.  The incident was first reported by @xjonnyc on Bluesky.

President Trump, along with first lady Melania Trump, were flying from Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County, Maryland, to London. They arrived in the UK on Tuesday evening. The president is meeting with King Charles III and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday. 

“Spirit Airlines flight 1300 (FLL-BOS) followed procedures and Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions while en route to Boston (BOS) and landed uneventfully at BOS,” a Spirit spokesperson told The Hill. “Safety is always our top priority.”

The Hill has also reached out to the White House and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for comment.

Updated at 5:37 p.m. EDT Sept. 18