SpaceX Team Tours Major Air Traffic Control Center in Virginia
After an airliner struck a U.S. Army helicopter over the Potomac River, resulting in the deaths of 67 individuals, Trump called for a complete reform of the system.
On Monday, a team from SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, visited a federal air traffic control center. Officials have indicated their intent to enhance the system following the fatal plane crash that occurred in Washington in January.
Duffy clarified that the SpaceX team was not receiving “special access” and emphasized that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “regularly offers tours of the command center to both media and companies.”
While some reports, including one from Reuters, indicated that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was visiting the Virginia command center, Duffy’s statement on X only mentioned SpaceX, the private company managed by Musk.
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Weeks back, President Donald Trump advocated for a complete revamp of the air traffic control system in light of a tragic incident where an American Airlines jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, killing 67 people on January 29.
Authorities are currently investigating the occurrence, pointing out that one air traffic controller involved had been managing both commercial airline and helicopter traffic at the bustling airport.
The order mandates new hiring practices, requiring the FAA Administrator to evaluate the past performance and standards of all FAA staff in critical safety positions and make it clear that anyone demonstrating inadequate capability will be replaced by an individual committed to ensuring the safety and efficiency of American flights.
Recently, the Trump administration terminated several probationary employees at the FAA involved in air traffic control, as indicated by David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association stated in a brief comment on Monday that it was “assessing the impact of the reported federal employee terminations on aviation safety, the national airspace system, and our members.”
Spero noted that termination notifications began arriving after 7 p.m. on February 14 and persisted late into the night. He mentioned that more individuals might receive notifications during the extended holiday weekend or be restricted from entering FAA facilities on Tuesday.
Departments affected include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, among others.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
