A report reveals that the responsibilities for managing military helicopters and commercial flight arrivals were combined at Reagan National Airport on the evening of a fatal collision. According to the New York Times, an air traffic controller was assigned both duties by their supervisor before an American Airlines flight crashed into an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. Typically, these duties are separated from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., but on that night, the combination occurred prematurely, raising concerns about staffing and safety protocols.
The preliminary FAA safety report indicated that staffing levels were “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic.” While the FAA confirmed that the tower has 25 Certified Professional Controllers and three in training, a source familiar with the situation stated that the staffing on Wednesday night was considered normal. The air control tower has faced longstanding understaffing issues, with only 19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023, falling short of the target of 30. This shortage has led to increased workloads for controllers, who often work extended hours due to turnover and budget constraints.