Report: Abnormal ATC Staffing Conditions in Tower During D.C. Midair

Leaked FAA report suggests there was unusual staffing in air traffic control tower during airplane and helicopter crash.

Caleb Revill

Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 05:06 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport [Credit: Shutterstock/ TJ Brown]

Key Takeaways:

A deadly midair collision in Washington, D.C., between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a PSA Airlines flight resulted in 67 fatalities.
A leaked report indicated "not normal" staffing conditions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) air traffic control (ATC) during the crash, with one controller reportedly handling duties typically assigned to two.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, while President Trump publicly blamed DEI policies at the FAA.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) expressed condolences and reaffirmed support for air traffic controllers, emphasizing their role in aviation safety.

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A leaked internal report said that staffing at the air traffic control (ATC) tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) was “not normal” during the deadly midair collision in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night.

The New York Times reported that the controller who was directing helicopter traffic around the airport was also instructing airplanes. The report noted these jobs are typically assigned to two different controllers at the airport.