Staffing at air control tower was ‘not normal,’ according to FAA: report

According to the report, the internal preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Bureau (FAA) said that the number of staff working in the air control tower at Ronal Dragan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia was “unusual between time and traffic. It is reported that it was indicated. “”

On Wednesday night, American Airlines planes and Army helicopters collide near Reagan National Airport outside Washington DC, and are estimated that all 67 aircraft are dead.

AP communication One air traffic controller has obtained a report indicating that the two positions are functioning during the crash.

Usually, two assignments are divided into two air control officers, not just one.

The FAA panel warns that the current safety level is inevitable.

“The configuration of the position was not normal between traffic time and amount,” said the report.

FAA did not respond immediately to the Fox News Digital question.

The Reagan Airport's Aviation Pagoda has been short of members for many years with 19 full -certified controllers as of September 2023. However, the human resource target and the controller union set by the FAA call 30.

FAA invests $ 111 million to change the airport to reduce the risk of invasion of the runway.

The emergency response unit will evaluate the remnants of the Potmax River plane near the Ronal Dragan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025, Virginia. The American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronal Dragan National Airport. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The shortage of FAA air traffic controllers is not new in Reagan National or national aviation control facilities.

Last year, Barry Biffle, a Frontier Airlines CEO, appeared in the Fox Business Network's “The Claman Countdown” and warned that if there was no problem during the summer season, it could cause problems.

Biffle explained that while technology is helpful in dealing with issues, it helps to promote more efficiency on empty journey for a long time, but the shortage of air control officers will contribute to delay and cancellation.

The FAA head stress industry needs to end a close call and update safety

The rescuer of the boat collided with the American Eagle Flight 5342 approaching Reagan Washington National Airport and collided with the American Eagle Flight 5342, which collided with the Potomac River in Washington, and then in the crash. I work as a rescuer next to the wreckage of the Hawk Helicopter. 2025. (Kevin Ramarc/Reuters)

“I have the opportunity to improve technology like air traffic control backbone,” Biffle said. “For example, looking at Europe is much more efficient to adopt here. Burn fuel and earn faster fuel. That is a great opportunity.

“At the same time, we do not deny the problem we think is now short, and when you have a weather event, it only causes more delays,” he explained. “And ultimately, as we have seen for the past few days, those delays turn into cancellations. [I] I really want to see the staff being corrected. Technology is probably a longer solution. “

FAA The National Air Space System (NAS) Safety Review Team created in April 2023 was created after several runways were invaded during a busy airport or landing, and in that year, air control is placed. We have determined that there are some associations such as crunch, lack of funds, and old technology. As a result, a safety margin that must be urgently dealt with is eroded. “

“The current erosion of the NAS safety edge, which is caused by the merger of these issues, makes the current level of safety cannot sustain,” said the team.

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The cause of the shortage is due to other factors such as employee sales and strict budgets, and ultimately due to 10 hours and 6 days a week.

Louis Casiano of Fox News Digital has contributed to this report.