Systemic neglect and controller fatigue linked to tragic Washington DC crash
According to media and aviation experts, the plane crash in Washington may have been caused by years of systemic neglect. They primarily attribute this to the fatigue of air traffic controllers and the rise in flight numbers. On Thursday, a collision between a passenger airplane and a helicopter resulted in 67 fatalities.
According to the Politico portal, fatigued controllers and the increasing number of flights are problems that have remained unresolved for decades. Media sources suggest that these issues and years of systemic neglect may have contributed to the tragedy in Washington.
On Thursday evening, a passenger airplane traveling from Kansas collided with a military helicopter that was on a training mission. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River.
All individuals aboard both aircraft were killed, including 64 passengers on the airplane and three soldiers on the helicopter.
Systemic problems in U.S. aviation
Experts and industry workers in the aviation sector highlight a range of systemic problems. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation focusing on issues like air traffic controller fatigue and communication errors. Preliminary findings indicate that controllers had instructed the helicopter crew to be cautious of the approaching plane, but the causes of the collision remain unclear.
The U.S. is estimated to be short about 3,000 controllers. Jim Hall, former chairman of the NTSB, emphasizes the necessity of rebuilding the aviation system after losing many skilled workers.
Hall noted that there has been a significant loss of experienced pilots, mechanics, and flight attendants. A shortage of controllers further exacerbates the situation due to retirements, along with the extensive training required for new specialists.
Congested airports and increased traffic
Though small, Ronald Reagan Airport is one of the busiest on the East Coast, handling 25 million passengers annually. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, who opposes increasing the number of flights, stresses that "we have very busy airspace."
In 2023, there were 11 "near-miss" incidents, highlighting the urgent need for changes in the aviation system.
