Mid-Air Collision at DC Days After FAA Becomes Leaderless
American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, and an Army Blackhawk helicopter collided in mid-air during the airplane’s approach to Reagan National Airport.
Both aircraft fell into the Potomac river. There are no survivors.
The Federal Aviation Administration has no Senate-confirmed leadership as it grapples with this accident. Under pressure from Elon Musk, FAA chief Michael Whitaker stepped down only about a year into his five year term as Donald Trump was inaugurated into the Presidency. Whitaker had proposed fines of $633,009 for Musk’s company SpaceX due to safety and environmental violations.
The FAA appears to be currently under the guidance of Chris Rocheleau as Deputy FAA Administrator until the Senate confirms someone as the agency’s new Administrator.
Click here for more about the crash.
Click here for more about Whitaker’s resignation.
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