Staffing Was Not Normal in the Air Traffic Control Tower

Thursday, January 30, 2025

That's according to a report by the Federal Aviation Administration that was obtained by The Associated Press.

Posted by GalaxiePete at 07:33 PM | 54 COMMENTS | permalink

Well said, Pete Buttigieg

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-- Andrew Weinstein (@andrewjweinstein.com) January 30, 2025 at 12:43 PM

Breaking News: Staffing at Reagan National Airport's control tower was "not normal" during the deadly plane crash in Washington, an internal FAA report said.

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-- The New York Times (@nytimes.com) January 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM

Comments

Wondering for a friend if this has anything to do with Trump's dictate on cutting Federal staffing.

#1 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2025-01-30 05:44 PM

Americans must want this. Since that's what they voted for.

Jill Stein 2028!

#2 | Posted by censored at 2025-01-30 06:31 PM

January 20: FAA director fired
January 21: Air Traffic Controller hiring frozen
January 22: Aviation Safety Advisory Committee disbanded
January 28: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees
January 29: First American mid-air collision in 16 years

Trump: "Obama's fault!"

Trumpers: "Yea!"

#3 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-01-30 06:54 PM

They had one person doing two people's jobs.... BUT the Controller did his job in this case, informing the copter that the plane was above him, and got confirmation back that they saw the plane.

Whatever happened was going on inside the copter.

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2025-01-30 07:20 PM

"They had one person doing two people's jobs...."

If true ... This is a worst case scenario of what happens when you eliminate a slot without studying what the effects of not having that person doing that job. And puts a spotlight on the criminal incompetence of this regime. So naturally they have to blame the Dems somehow.

You would think that they would learn from this but no they are gonna try and blame the Dems. I can already see where they are going with it. Right into the sewers.

It was refreshing to hear the NTSB professionals talk.

#5 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-01-30 07:31 PM

www.huffpost.com

President Donald Trump on Thursday gave a dismissive response when asked if he would visit the Washington-area location where a passenger plane and an Army helicopter collided, killing 67 people.

"I have a plan to visit, not the site because " you tell me, what's the site? The water?" Trump told reporters at the White House. "You want me to go swimming?"

Impeach this POS already...

#6 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-01-30 07:34 PM

It was refreshing to hear the NTSB professionals talk.

Have they been fired yet?

#7 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-01-30 07:36 PM

Any right wing ding on this site want to defend this callous bastard?

Now's your chance.

#8 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-01-30 07:37 PM

The Traitor In Chief Trashing Our Country Tictoc for short.

#9 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-01-30 07:40 PM

Read up on Obama's amnesty program he instituted for air traffic controllers to get a more enlightened perspective.

Just read it.

#10 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 07:42 PM

Bill- Obama did something is not a Trump defense.

You voted for a cruel ugly evil man child. I dare you to defend him making jokes about 67 dead people.

"You want me to go swimming?"

Defend this. I don't think you can.

#11 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-01-30 07:46 PM

Read me your golden trump bible, bill.

Try Matthew 7:15-20.

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

#12 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-01-30 07:48 PM

It pretty well provides Trump with a reason to suspect dei initiatives may be part of the problem.

Whether or not this crash applies, most certainly common sense should tell you eliminating mandatory retraining after 2 close incidents as Obama did was not wise.

Obama considered it punishment rather than retraining and so he created the amnesty program.

#13 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 07:50 PM

I didn't think you had it in you.

You're honestly not bright enough to articulate why you like evil people like Trump.

#14 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-01-30 07:52 PM

Alex,

Bible thumper.

#15 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 07:55 PM

Read up on Obama's amnesty program he instituted for air traffic controllers to get a more enlightened perspective.

Just read it.

Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 07:42 PM | Reply

Trump owns this you dishonest hack job. Deal with it BillJohnson

#16 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-01-30 07:56 PM

Bill-

Coward. Moral Pygmy.

#17 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-01-30 07:56 PM

Bill didn't even try to defend trump joking about the plane crash.

Any righties want to step up? Any of his voters? You're cowards, all of you.

#18 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-01-30 07:58 PM

You're honestly not bright enough to articulate why you like evil people like Trump.

Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-01-30 07:52 PM | Reply

Because Trump gives him cart blanche to spread his hate without remorse. Trump validates his hatred for others not like himself.

#19 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-01-30 07:59 PM

The Biden-era FAA website, now scrubbed, said, "The FAA's mission involves securing the skies of a diverse nation. It only makes sense that the workforce responsible for that mission reflects the nation."

In 2022, the FAA pledged to "diversify its workforce by rethinking its hiring practices," and administration officials assigned long-term goals to amplify diversity, accessibility and LGBTQ issues.

A 2022 performance target required that the agency "host a national symposium with internal and external stakeholders to socialize efforts on the use of gender-neutral language at FAA."

The FAA declared 2023 a "Year of Inclusion" and held a three-day symposium that trained FAA employees to understand the impact of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility and to overcome and unmask "unconscious bias."

The FAA's focus on diversity began under the Obama administration. In 2013, the FAA started using a "biographical assessment" to increase the hiring of preferred minority racial groups at air traffic control centers. The assessment asked applicants about their participation in school sports and the age at which they started earning money.

Yeah, because air traffic controllers need to be 'diverse' not competent...

#20 | Posted by Javelin at 2025-01-30 08:25 PM

Staffing Was Not Normal in the Air Traffic Control Tower

The orange rapist built that.

#21 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-01-30 08:30 PM

Yeah, because air traffic controllers need to be 'diverse' not competent...

Believe it or not, it's possible to be both.

#22 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-01-30 08:32 PM

NPR's aviation expert:

www.youtube.com

which is the source for #4, but covers much more, like the 200 ft that the plane was above the copter path, which is SOP... and how the copter path should be moved.

#23 | Posted by Corky at 2025-01-30 08:45 PM

You know when I was growing up and the times after. I always wondered how Jim Jones could talk so many into believing in him without question. NOW I know. The MAGA Trumper cult explains why beautifully.

#24 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-01-30 08:50 PM

Redial,

"Believe it or not, it's possible to be both."

Actually not.

For example when you render video you have to decide.

Reduced file size or faster rendering.

Or the ever present choices we make concerning quality vs quantity.

Common sense should tell you that forced quotas will eliminate sometimes better qualified candidates.

But you have to have common sense.

Btw...didn't we learn globalization at the expense of our own national needs doesn't work like you thought it would?

Probably not...it needs common sense.

#25 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 08:53 PM

Actually not.

For example when you render video you have to decide.

Reduced file size or faster rendering.

Or the ever present choices we make concerning quality vs quantity.

Common sense should tell you that forced quotas will eliminate sometimes better qualified candidates.

But you have to have common sense.

Btw...didn't we learn globalization at the expense of our own national needs doesn't work like you thought it would?

Probably not...it needs common sense.

Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 08:53 PM | Reply

ROFLMMFAO HAHAHAHAHA. You're sure laying it on thick tonight BillJohnson. You ignorant buffoon. BTW I see you have stopped talking about mail-in ballots and mail-in voting. Surprise surprise.

#26 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-01-30 08:56 PM

Common sense should tell you that forced quotas will eliminate sometimes better qualified candidates.

DEI is not "forced quotas".

#27 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-01-30 08:59 PM

- didn't we learn globalization

You support the first billionaire globalist Pres ever, who has been hired for 300 million by the richest globalist in the world to help build his global Nazi 4th Reich.

WTF are you talking about??

#28 | Posted by Corky at 2025-01-30 09:02 PM

BillJohnson drinking the cyanide laced grape flavored FlavorAid. Boy my stomach hurts so much. Common sense tells me that it should feel good. Maybe if I drink some more it will help. After all that's what Trump said to do and I believe in him.

#29 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-01-30 09:07 PM

Redial,

While DEI initiatives do not legally mandate quotas, in practice they often function as de facto quotas.

#30 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 09:12 PM

It has been reported that just a few hours earlier there was another helicopter and plane near miss.

#31 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 09:14 PM

BUT I will say Bill that having a video made about you is pretty cool!:

www.youtube.com

The actor got you perfectly, too.

It's also a thread

drudge.com

#32 | Posted by Corky at 2025-01-30 09:16 PM

Laura,

"BTW I see you have stopped talking about mail-in ballots and mail-in voting. Surprise surprise."

This election voting wasn't as loosey goosey as 2020.

States understood the risks and some made improvements.

#33 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 09:19 PM

While DEI initiatives do not legally mandate quotas, in practice they often function as de facto quotas.

So is it your opinion that the most qualified candidate for any position is always the straight white man? That's what "DEI" is... the subset of humanity that are not straight, white men.

#34 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-01-30 09:21 PM

This election voting wasn't as loosey goosey as 2020.

States understood the risks and some made improvements.

Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 09:19 PM | Reply

What a fraudster you are. You didn't give a crap about mail-in voting. You just used it to whine about Trump's loss and to excuse Trump's insurrection. Now that he won. You don't care. What a hack job you are BillJohnson.

#35 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-01-30 09:23 PM

The flight was from Kansas, so chances are some of them really did get what they voted for. Trump is hurting the right people.

#36 | Posted by censored at 2025-01-30 09:23 PM

Corky,

I said before I am selective what sort of negativity I watch.

The first one was mocking Jesus. What makes you think I would like that?

I didn't watch the 2nd one.

You spend your day watching stuff like that?

#37 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 09:23 PM

I said before I am selective what sort of negativity I watch.

The first one was mocking Jesus. What makes you think I would like that?

I didn't watch the 2nd one.

You spend your day watching stuff like that?

Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 09:23 PM | Reply

The video was mocking people like you BillJohnson. You voted for a guy who is the antithesis of what Jesus Christ was all about. That's why you don't like it. Own it.

#38 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-01-30 09:26 PM

You'll never see anything, BJ, with your eyes closed.

Which is dangerous when you are running away so hard from posts like #28.

#39 | Posted by Corky at 2025-01-30 09:26 PM

S*** for brains,

"What a fraudster you are. You didn't give a crap about mail-in voting. You just used it to whine about Trump's loss and to excuse Trump's insurrection"

A month before the election in 2020 I was voicing my concerns about the potential for voting irregularities.

#40 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 09:26 PM

re: #35

They use the "voter fraud" argument so they can disenfranchise minority voters who overwhelmingly vote Democrat; who knows how many contests Rs have won via this dispicable method

#41 | Posted by hamburglar at 2025-01-30 09:27 PM

BJ prefers Voter Suppression to fair elections.

drudge.com

And Trump spent a lot of time and money promoting the mail-in ballot, lol.

#42 | Posted by Corky at 2025-01-30 09:35 PM

hartmannreport.com

should be the link in 42

#43 | Posted by Corky at 2025-01-30 09:36 PM

Redial,

"So is it your opinion that the most qualified candidate for any position is always the straight white man? That's what "DEI" is... the subset of humanity that are not straight, white men."

No.

#44 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-01-30 09:36 PM

No.

Well back in #25 you pretty much said that.

#45 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-01-30 09:40 PM

AND of course there's NO evidence that DEI had anything to do with the crash.

Trump is just lucky that his supporters don't need any evidence.

Trump's Secret Agenda

www.youtube.com

3 min

#46 | Posted by Corky at 2025-01-30 09:43 PM

MAGA vermin have something to celebrate.

www.kwch.com

#47 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-01-30 09:46 PM

Pilot behind Miracle on the Hudson' 2009 landing reacts to crash
CNN reports that in response to President Donald Trump blaming the crash on diversity initiatives in the government, Former US Airways Capt. Chelsey Sullenberger, the pilot behind the Miracle on the Hudson' 2009 landing said:

"An airplane cannot know or care who the pilot is " what their skin tone is, what gender they are. All it can know is what control inputs are made, and everyone depends upon them being the most skillful and appropriate ones."

#48 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-01-30 10:08 PM

This election voting wasn't as loosey goosey as 2020.

#33 | Posted by BillJohnson

Sez who? By whose terms?

#49 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2025-01-30 10:41 PM

It pretty well provides Trump with a reason to suspect dei initiatives may be part of the problem.

DEI is not the problem. At all. That's ridiculous.
Do you know how many ATCs are white?
How many pilots are White?
Do you know that the website Trump scrubbed removing all the "DEI" wording was the same under Trump's first term?
Did you?
Do you know that the ability to do the job is and always has been first and foremost?
Do you know what it takes to become an ATC?

Do you know why the head of the FAA is gone?
Because Musk's rockets blew up and rained shht all over flights going over the Indian Ocean, so he got a "no fly" order until safety could be reasonably guaranteed. That made Musk furious and demanded the his head.

Do you know what Musk said of all the debris falling from his blown up space craft that was wreaking havoc on flights?
"Entertaining" I think was the word.

Only the best - just look at who he's putting on his cabinet, or the head of the FBI (Geezus kriest!), or the DNI, or HHS.
I am stunned at how spectacularly horrible and wretched Trump and the GOP are doing so far.

#50 | Posted by YAV at 2025-01-30 10:43 PM

Gulf of Mexico, not the Indian Ocean*

#51 | Posted by YAV at 2025-01-30 10:47 PM

not the Indian Ocean

I hear the Indian Ocean has been renamed Great Sea of Pakistan.

#52 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-01-30 11:01 PM

The Trump Canal in Panama says hello!

#53 | Posted by Corky at 2025-01-30 11:10 PM

The Trump Canal in Panama says hello!

Posted by Corky at 2025-01-30 11:10 PM | Reply

That's where MAGA Trumpers go to gorge themselves. Just sayin

#54 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-01-30 11:16 PM

Drudge Retort Headlines

'No Survivors' Yet Found from Plane Crash (182 comments)

Trump: Guantanamo Bay to Prepare to Host 30,000 Migrants (86 comments)

Staffing Was Not Normal in the Air Traffic Control Tower (54 comments)

White House Rescinds Trump's Funding Freeze after Massive Backlash (45 comments)