Neglected Warnings: Fatal FAA Oversight in DC Airspace
The U.S. Secretary of Transportation criticized the FAA for failing to address numerous near-miss incidents, leading to a fatal crash in January. From 2021 onwards, over 15,200 air separation incidents were reported near Reagan, with no significant action taken.
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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for their inaction despite repeated warnings about dangerous near-miss incidents. His comments came on Tuesday following a deadly crash on January 29, involving an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport.
Secretary Duffy highlighted that the tragic collision, which claimed 67 lives, was not an isolated incident. 'We had 84 near misses in the three years prior in the DC air space, and no corrective measures were implemented,' he remarked to reporters, implying negligence on the FAA's part.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) provided data showing that since 2021, there have been 15,200 air separation incidents in the vicinity of Reagan Airport. This includes 85 events classified as close calls, raising questions over the federal watchdog's oversight.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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