FAA Oversight Failures Unveiled: Near-Misses Ignored Before Fatal Crash

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is under fire for not taking action on numerous near-miss incidents before a deadly January crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed on Tuesday. The fatal accident involved an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter, resulting in 67 deaths.

Transportation Secretary Duffy highlighted a history of inaction, pointing out that 84 near-miss incidents had previously occurred. The crash happened shortly after President Donald Trump assumed office, and there's uncertainty whether the data reached then-Secretary Pete Buttigieg or current FAA leaders under President Biden.

The National Transportation Safety Board disclosed that since 2021, 15,200 separation incidents were logged near Reagan Airport involving commercial planes and helicopters. These include 85 significant close-call events. Recent close calls remain under FAA scrutiny. Lawmakers are pressing the FAA for its prolonged inaction, with the agency taking steps like restricting Army helicopter flights near the Pentagon.

(With inputs from agencies.)