Sri Lanka, Aug. 6 -- US President Donald Trump was at the centre of a reported mid-air safety scare on Tuesday after Marine One, the military helicopter carrying him, allegedly flew within less than a mile of a commercial passenger jet over Washington.

The helicopter had departed the White House for Andrews Air Force Base around the same time an American Airlines regional flight took off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, prompting a federal investigation into what officials described as a "loss of separation" event.

The White House, however, insisted the president was never in danger.

According to a New York Times report, the close approach occurred after garbled communication with air traffic controllers.

The National T...