The recent fatal crash of an American Airlines regional jet in Washington, D.C., after colliding with a helicopter, marks the first fatal crash of a US commercial airplane since 2009. While the US boasts a gold standard for airline safety, experts warn of increasing risks due to a strained air traffic control system and congestion in major airports.
US airlines had gone 16 years without a fatal crash until Wednesday night. But as impressive as that safety record had been, there have been warning signs in recent years of a significant risk of a collision like the one that just killed 67 people.
“Pilots, air traffic controllers, mechanics — they’re all human, and humans make mistakes. We’ve been working toward designing the system so that when mistakes are made, we can recover from them without it being a tragedy.” And such near collisions have become so common that the Federal Aviation Administration announced an audit of such incidents last fall.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AVIATION SAFETY AIR TRAVEL US AIRLINES NEAR COLLISIONS
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Suspect arrested in fatal multi-vehicle crash in San Francisco that followed hit-and-run crashA man detained by police following a fatal multi-vehicle crash in San Francisco Sunday evening was arrested Monday, police said.
Read more »
Plane Crash Live: Helicopter Emerges In River After American Airlines CrashA plane carrying 60 passengers collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington D.C. on Wednesday evening.
Read more »
DC plane crash marks first major commercial crash in US in more than 15 yearsWednesday's crash involving an American Airlines flight and Black Hawk helicopter marked the first commercial crash on U.S. soil in more than 15 years.
Read more »
Aldine Westfield Road shut down in N. Harris County after fatal crashA fatal crash has shut down all lanes of Aldine Westfield Road in north Harris County.
Read more »
Cleanup ongoing after sulfur dioxide leak following fatal crash in San Jacinto County🚨 Cleanup continues after a sulfur dioxide leak in San Jacinto County following a fatal crash.
Read more »
Alabama Woman Arrested in Infant Son's Presumed Death After Fatal Car CrashWendy Jean Bailey faces a homicide charge in connection with the death of her 2-year-old daughter, RyLeigh Collins, who was killed in a car crash along with her father. Bailey's infant son, Kahleb Collins, is presumed dead after authorities believe he had been deceased for some time before the crash.
Read more »