WASHINGTON, D.C. — NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman flew aircraft over Washington, D.C., on Saturday, July 5, 2025, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as a passenger. The flight occurred as part of the U.S. 250th anniversary celebration.

A senior adviser to the NASA administrator had petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of JDI Holdings for permission to participate in aerial demonstrations over the National Mall. The petition requested that four Northrop F-5 Tiger II aircraft from Isaacman's private fleet be included in the flyover. Publicly released documents indicated that the petition stated the aircraft would be flown by NASA pilots and U.S. Air Force pilots, and noted that the request was sponsored by the White House and NASA.

The FAA denied the request on June 30, citing safety concerns. The agency deemed the F-5 fighter jet as very high-risk for operation over densely populated areas due to a lack of emergency landing zones. Hugh Thomas, the director of the Flight Standards Service, signed the denial, which stated that the F-5 is an aircraft where a single system failure renders it uncontrollable.

NASA later transferred Isaacman's aircraft from private ownership to public use under the space agency. By this action, the aircraft became a public use government aircraft, according to the FAA. The FAA stated that the responsibility for the operation of such aircraft falls to the specific government agency, not the FAA.

Todd Blanche rode in the cockpit with Jared Isaacman during the flyover. Afterward, Blanche wrote on X, "It was an honor to fly over the National Mall with [Isaacman] as part of America's 250th celebration." Isaacman also wrote on X, stating, "I had the privilege of flying [Blanche] over the National Mall."

Initially, Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino and former Trump 2024 campaign manager Chris LaCivita had been invited to fly in the cockpit during the event, but their participation was later removed. White House spokeswoman Liz Huston commented on the overall event, saying, "The successful air show, record-breaking fireworks display, and President Trump's incredible speech combined to make our Nation's 250th birthday celebration one for the ages."