More details are coming to light since the Wednesday evening collision that killed 67 people. The New York Times reviewed an internal preliminary Federal Aviation Administration safety report, showing that staffing at the air traffic control tower at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.”
One air traffic controller was responsible for two jobs that night: “The controller who was handling helicopters in the airport’s vicinity Wednesday night was also instructing planes that were landing and departing from its runways. Those jobs typically are assigned to two controllers, rather than one.” (The New York Times)
Other factors: DCA has one of the busiest runways in the U.S. That’s because it’s a relatively small space with huge demand and traffic. Axios notes that the main runway has roughly 800 takeoffs and landings *per day*. Now, add the helicopters in the airspace.
Plus: Wednesday’s fatal collision has reinvigorated concerns over air traffic controller shortages.
The Wall Street Journal explains how for years, these factors have led to danger signs. “Lawmakers have lobbied to add flights, while pilots have complained about the presence of military and other aircraft.” Read: ‘Washington’s Jam-Packed Airspace Has Prompted Warnings for Years’
📹 CNN obtained new footage of the crash — warning, it’s graphic.
Happening today: Officials are expected to release the entire flight manifest.
What about the black boxes?: Officials said they have from the plane. 📸
Who has been identified so far?:
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16-year-old ice skater Spencer Lane and his mother Christine Lane
- 13-year-old ice skater Jinna Han and her mother Jin Han.
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12-year-old figure skater Brielle Beyer and her mother Justyna Magdalena Beyer, according to NBC News.
- One of the American Eagle jet pilots, First Officer Sam Lilley
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Two Chinese nationals
- Former world champion skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov
- Four steamfitters in the United Association
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Flight attendant Ian Epstein 📹 Watch this incredible video of Epstein singing to passengers on a recent flight
💔 Here’s a list of confirmed victims
