Diogenes
Nemo me impune lacessit
DEI DEMOCRATS
Air traffic control staff numbers at Reagan National Airport was 'not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic' and controllers were more overworked than usual.
That is one of the findings of an internal preliminary Federal Aviation Administration safety report on Wednesday night's air disaster seen by the failing New York Times.
Reagan National has been understaffed for years, with just 19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023 - well below the target of 30 - according to the most recent Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan submitted to Congress.
Chronic understaffing at air traffic control towers is nothing new, with well-known n causes including high turnover (made worse by overwork-induced burnout) and budget cuts.
Controllers frequently worked 10-hour days, six days a week, to fill the void.
The preliminary crash report detailed that the lack of staff meant the controller monitoring and directing helicopters near DCA was also instructing planes landing and departing on the runways.
Usually two controllers would handle these roles, as staff use two different radio frequencies to talk to planes and helicopter pilots.

Horrifying FAA revelation about airport tower at time of DC crash
LIVE UPDATES: Sixty passengers, four crew, and three US Army personnel are believed to be dead after the collision 400ft over the Potomac River in Washington DC.