A threat to the safety of air travel in the US was caused yesterday when a passenger jet came too close to Air Force One, the plane of US President Donald Trump, as it headed for the UK. According to reports, the presidential Boeing 747, which was over New York City, noticed that a Spirit Airlines aircraft was flying a similar course.

Air traffic controllers, upon spotting this dangerous situation, immediately warned the Spirit Airlines pilots to change course and move away from the President’s aircraft. Although the two planes remained a safe distance apart and there was no immediate risk of a safety boundary violation, the pilots of the Spirit Airlines aircraft traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Boston were required to correct course after the controller’s stern warning.

In the audio, the air traffic controller can be heard addressing the pilot of the Spirit aircraft and asking him to maintain his distance from Air Force One. “I’m sure you can see it” he tells him.

Air Force One, carrying Donald Trump and Melania, finally arrived in the UK without further incident last night for the US President’s official visit. Mr and Mrs Trump will meet King Charles and Queen Camilla this afternoon at a formal dinner. The King is expected to give the keynote address welcoming the US president, while Queen Camilla will show Melania an elaborate dollhouse built a century ago by architect Sir Edwin Latiens.