Quotes
Today's decision will immediately help secure the airspace near Reagan Airport, ensuring the safety of airplane and helicopter traffic, ... The American people deserve full confidence in our aviation system and today's action is a significant step towards restoring that trust."
Duffy said in a post on X This one was transitioning from track one to four as part of their normal procedure,
People have to understand when they look at this, that it a space that I happen to think is too crowded,
He doesn't really have responsibility for the investigation. As the secretary of DOT, he will have the staff of the FAA that will work with the NTSB,
You have three international airports, ... You have Dulles in Northern Virginia, you have Reagan in downtown Washington, D.C., and you have Baltimore just a few miles down the road in Maryland."
LaHood, who served under President Barack Obama, said on "Wake Up America." We tried to utilize the accident in Buffalo to correct some problems that we found and were able to work with Congress and pass bipartisan legislation,
After pilot error was indicated by the NTSB as the cause of that accident ... he said That's really probably the only good thing that came of this, and I hope that's the way that it works in this incident,
Perhaps one of their recommendations will be that it is too crowded and there needs to be some relief somehow for this crowded airspace,
We’ve been pretty plain about our [safety] concerns, but it isn’t a good time to speculate right now,
Senator Tim Kaine said Thursday We have raised this issue continuously. We’ve got very busy airspace. I think we will ask questions, but at the appropriate time.”
Senator Mark Warner issued a similar warning, per CNN The proposal flies in the face of known safety concerns and known congestion concerns,
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, said of the bill last year In May, I was proud to be part of the effort to authorize more direct flights into Washington D.C. and open the door for a nonstop flight from San Antonio. American's proposed direct flight will make travel easier for thousands of military, business and leisure travelers and attract new jobs for our talented workforce."
Democratic Texas Representative Joaquin Castro said in July 2024 statement While the bill contains many positive features, the Senate is poised to consider a provision that could impair safety and will significantly increase delay and inconvenience experienced by the nearly 25 million passengers who use Reagan National Airport (DCA) every year. The provision will overburden the already congested main runway at DCA and, as shown by a recent near-collision at the airport, increase the risk of a serious accident there."
Senators Mark R. Warner, Tim Kaine, Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen said in April 2024 statement God forbid waking up and looking in a mirror one day and saying, 'Wow, I was warned. I was warned, and I shouldn't have done this,'
We are going to wait for all the information to come in from this vantage point, but … what I've seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely. Something went wrong here. I look forward to the time and point where we can give you that information, but I don't want to comment on that right now."
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said during Thursday press briefing on the collision FAA investigators are supporting the NTSB-led investigation of Wednesday night's midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport. The NTSB is leading the investigation and will provide all updates. We cannot comment on any aspect of open investigations. The FAA will quickly take any actions necessary based on evidence from the investigation."
The FAA said in a statement Then we're going to find out what happened,
My office is following the breaking and tragic news of a collision at @Reagan_Airport,
the lieutenant governor wrote We are actively monitoring the situation & stand ready to support local responders,
the former South Dakota governor wrote Our prayers are with all families impacted by the tragic plane crash that just took place here in DC,
