DC Plane Crash Highlights National Air Traffic Controller Shortages

An investigation reveals critical staffing gaps at Reagan National and other facilities, raising concerns about aviation safety across the U.S.

A collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport killed 67 people, prompting scrutiny of air traffic control staffing levels.
The FAA confirmed that the control tower at Reagan National was not staffed according to normal standards for the time of day and traffic volume during the crash.
Over 90% of U.S. air traffic control facilities operate below recommended staffing levels, with some major airports experiencing severe shortages of fully certified controllers.
Training disruptions during the pandemic, early retirements, and the lengthy certification process have exacerbated the staffing crisis, with only 70% of staffing targets met by fully certified controllers nationwide as of late 2023.
The FAA has made progress by hiring over 1,800 new controllers in the past fiscal year, but experts warn that these efforts may still fall short of meeting current safety demands.