According to a report by the New York Times, US airlines have achieved the longest streak without a fatal air crash since 2009. However, this positive achievement is overshadowed by the alarming number of close calls that have been occurring. The investigation conducted by the newspaper, based on internal FAA records, unveiled that there were 46 near-accidents in the past month alone. Shockingly, most of these incidents were not disclosed to the public. Over the course of a year, there were approximately 300 close calls involving US commercial airlines. The majority of these incidents occurred near airports, whether in the air or on runways.
The testimonies from airline captains further underline the severity of the situation. In one instance, a captain expressed their fear after being cleared to land by an air traffic controller, only to find themselves on a collision course with another passenger plane. NASA also maintains a database of such incidents, which was reviewed by the Times. Many of these incidents can be attributed to human error, exacerbated by a shortage of air traffic controllers nationwide.
In response to the report, the FAA issued a news release acknowledging that while the US aviation system is the safest in the world, even a single close call is unacceptable. The agency has taken steps to address this issue, including the hiring of 1,500 new controllers for the 2023 fiscal year and enhancing training and protocols. Gary Leff, in a blog post on View from the Wing, emphasizes the urgent need for reform in the aviation system. He proposes that the FAA should not be allowed to regulate itself and suggests the oversight be transferred to another government agency or a private nonprofit, following the example of Canada.
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