Some FAA systems are a half-century old, as aging tech suffers from lack of replacement parts and service

Ronald Reagan National Airport (Credit: Andrew Harnik—Getty Images)

• The Federal Aviation Administration has equipment that's 50 years old, according to a 2024 GAO report. Meanwhile, most air traffic control towers in the US are understaffed.

While the nation reels from two airplane crashes this week, questions about US air-safety infrastructure are on the rise.