The fatal midair collision over the Potomac River on Wednesday should be a wake-up call to Congress and the nation to address long-unresolved issues like an air traffic controller shortage and D.C. airspace congestion, according to many in the aviation industry.
Chief among the concerns is the potential impact of President Donald Trump’s promised cuts to the federal workforce and government spending, which they warn could disrupt expertise and funding at the Federal Aviation Administration and harm aviation safety.
“The problem with the system — it’s a tombstone mentality. Nobody does anything, we’re always reactionary until something like this happens,” said Brian Alexander, partner at law firm Kreindler & Kreindler LLP who focuses on aviation accident law, in an interview. “I think there will be some positive changes and some funding changes as a result of this crash. Ultimately, that’s a good thing, but it shouldn’t be a good thing at the expense of this terrible tragedy.”
