The pilots of Marine One tried to resolve communication issues in a meeting with air traffic controllers from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport five days before the presidential transport helicopter departed at the same time as a passenger jet, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday.

The Marine One pilots confirmed DCA controllers’ concerns that radio communication “had been spotty” in their July 30 meeting. Both sides agreed to an alternative contact method in case the initial attempt failed. Both methods were unsuccessful in the aviation incident.