Air traffic control staffing at Ronald Reagan National Airport was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” a preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday’s crash found.
Federal authorities are asking questions as to how the collision between an American Airlines flight and a military helicopter could have occurred. All 67 people involved in the crash are “presumed dead” after the two aircraft plunged into the Potomac River.
The report, obtained by several outlets including the Associated Press, found that one controller handled helicopters in the airport’s vicinity as well as planes that were departing and landing during the time of the crash. Those two jobs typically have one controller assigned to each.
While the report found that the arrangement of one worker doing two jobs was “not normal,” a source told the Associated Press it was not atypical, as workers will fill in for their colleagues during breaks, shift changes, or slow nights.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it couldn’t confirm the report but will release its own preliminary report within 30 days.
The single controller facing the increased workload likely dealt with more complicated circumstances than if he had another controller to spread the tasks. Controllers also use different frequencies to communicate with helicopters and planes.
President Donald Trump shifted blame for the crash onto the pilots of the military helicopter during a press conference on Thursday.
“The helicopter had vision of the plane, and for some reason, there weren’t any adjustments made,” Trump said. “The people in the helicopter should have been able to see.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
In a memorandum issued later on Thursday, Trump suggested diversity, equity, and inclusion was to blame for the crash.
“On my second day in office, I ordered an immediate return to merit-based recruitment, hiring, and promotion, elevating safety and ability as the paramount standard,” he said. “Yesterday’s devastating accident tragically underscores the need to elevate safety and competence as the priority of the FAA.”
