The White House has decided to remove the vice-chairman from the independent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as reported on Tuesday.
Alvin Brown, who served as vice-chairman, was removed from his position on Monday, according to a report by Reuters. This change was confirmed by the White House. On the NTSB website, he is now listed as a committee member, despite being archived last Friday.
Brown, who previously held the office of mayor in Jacksonville, Florida, joined the NTSB in March 2024 after being appointed as vice-chairman by former President Biden late last year.
This removal occurs amidst increasing worries about aviation safety, particularly following several serious aircraft incidents in recent months, such as a tragic collision between American Airlines flights and Army helicopters near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Last Friday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized the Department of Defense after an Army helicopter caused two commercial jets to alter their flight paths and land at the National Airport.
“This is unacceptable. The regulations surrounding helicopters at DCA are clear. Alongside investigations from @ntsb and @faanews, we will consult with @deptofdefense to understand why our guidelines were overlooked.”
