Not just Reagan: Airports across the US have struggled with air traffic control staffing in recent years, data shows

This tragic accident is definitely going to put a spotlight on the national air traffic system and may finally result in a proper funding level so the system can be upgraded and maintained,

he said in an interview

It takes a long time to train an air traffic controller,

Mary Schiavo, a former Department of Transportation inspector general, told CNN

We have been short staffed for too many years and it’s creating so many unsafe situations,

one controller in Southern California wrote last year, recounting how a small aircraft requesting assistance could not be helped due to workload issues

We are already on forced 6-day work weeks working overtime every week,

another controller in Northern California wrote

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has 25 Certified Professional Controllers and three Certified Professional Controllers in Training (CPC-ITs). CPC-ITs were previously fully certified at other facilities. The tower is authorized to have 28 controllers,

and FAA spokesperson said

Pete Hegsethdefense Secretary

We are looking at altitude... someone was at the wrong altitude. The investigation will help us understand that – was the Black Hawk too high? Was it on course? Right now we don’t quite know,

Hegseth said

The Blackhawk helicopter was flying too high, by a lot. It was far above the 200 foot limit,

Trump wrote

Kevin Mullinmassachusetts

It is well known that the San Francisco Bay Area has a high cost of living, and federal agencies need to account for regional differences when evaluating how to establish contracts for critical services. I am pleased to learn that contract negotiations have moved in a positive direction and a resolution is forthcoming."

Kevin Mullin told NBC Bay Area

Pilots remain well-trained in non-towered airport procedures. Additionally, the surrounding airspace remains under the direct oversight of the FAA's Northern California Terminal Radar Approach Control."

San Carlos airport spokesperson Davi Howard said

As a contingency, RVA is preparing to bring in controllers from other towers across the country to prevent an ATC-Zero (unstaffed tower) situation on Saturday,

she said

At this time we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft.”

The chief executive of American Airlines, Robert Eisen, said

I am sure by now all of you have heard the news of the tragedy that has occurred in DC

Eaves' devastated wife, Carrie, said

PAT 2-5, do you have the CRJ in sight?

One air traffic controller said to the helicopter pilot

I just had a gut feeling when I saw the story breaking.

He told the Washington Post

It may have, I don't know

But at another point, asked if race and gender played a role in the tragic accident, Trump said

Nighttime always makes things different about seeing other aircraft — basically all you can do is see the lights on them

The 74-year-old added

There would have been fewer ground lights visible over the water than over land at night.

He said

I will be meeting with some people that were very badly hurt, with their family member, obviously, but I'll be meeting with some of the families,

he said

I think there are a lot of speculations at this stage, and the investigation hasn't really begun,

Hassan Shahidi, chief executive of the independent Flight Safety Foundation, told AFP

We don't know what we know just yet. We do not know enough facts to be able to rule in or out human factor, mechanical factors – that is part of the NTSB investigative process,

Inman said