Sen. Blumenthal says FAA staffing cuts may have contributed to deadly plane collision at LaGuardia
Blumenthal said the inquiry should focus on whether reductions in air traffic controllers nationwide created conditions that increased the risk of operational errors.
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Sen. Richard Blumenthal is calling for a full investigation into federal aviation staffing and resource decisions following the deadly plane collision at LaGuardia Airport.
Speaking about the tragedy, Blumenthal said federal authorities must closely examine how air traffic control staffing may have played a role in the incident. “There needs to be an investigation that critically looks at the failure of this administration to properly staff, resource and support air traffic controllers and the FAA cutting resources, slashing the numbers of air traffic controllers across the country and failing to replace them,” he said. “That is a likely cause, or at least a contributing one, to this tragedy.”
Blumenthal said the inquiry should focus on whether reductions in air traffic controllers nationwide created conditions that increased the risk of operational errors.
Federal and local investigations are underway.
