FAA's Oversight Lapse Before Tragic Crash Sparks Legislative Response

The FAA faced criticism for not acting on numerous near-miss incidents before a deadly January crash between a regional jet and an Army helicopter. Despite past warnings, safety data remained unaddressed. Recent reviews and legislative proposals aim to avert such tragedies in the future.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is under scrutiny following a fatal January crash between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated the agency failed to address numerous near-miss incidents leading up to the deadly event.

Duffy highlighted that 84 near misses occurred in Washington D.C.'s airspace over three years before the January 29 accident, resulting in 67 deaths shortly after President Trump took office. The incident raised questions about whether important safety data was communicated to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg or FAA leadership under President Biden.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted 15,200 air separation incidents, with 85 close calls since 2021. Increased scrutiny has led to FAA measures, including barring Army helicopter flights near the Pentagon. Amid growing concern, bipartisan legislation proposes requiring ADS-B technology to enhance aircraft tracking and prevent future tragedies.

(With inputs from agencies.)