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Warnings about systemic dangers were sounded months before. A November 2023 report exposed critical staffing shortfalls, forcing controllers to make last-minute flight adjustments and highlighting a surge in near-catastrophic misses—19 in 2023 alone, one of the highest counts in years.
The controversy stems from the FAA’s overhaul of its hiring process during the Obama years. The agency scrapped the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI)—a rigorous, skills-based pipeline—in favor of a biographical questionnaire that replaced the AT-SAT test. This abrupt change blindsided CTI graduates, slashing their success rate to just 14%, despite prior qualifications. One of the affected graduates filed a class-action lawsuit, accusing the FAA of discriminatory hiring practices.
Michael Pearson, a 26-year FAA veteran turned attorney, leads the lawsuit, alleging the FAA sidelined merit for diversity quotas. “The FAA stopped hiring just to figure out how to eliminate the CTI program,” Pearson told Just the News. “They believed there were too many white people.”
Pearson also pointed to negligence by the Reagan Airport controller, who ignored a conflict alert that signaled the impending crash. “When a [conflict alert] goes off, you take immediate action,” Pearson stated. “The controller failed to advise the jet of the helicopter’s position and neglected safety advisories.”
KICK OUT The Cold and Say Hello to The Handyheater! Warming Any Spot INSTANTLY!
Criticism extends to the Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP), a non-punitive reporting system. While proponents claim ATSAP helps identify hazards early, detractors argue it fosters a culture of impunity.
The FAA now faces mounting backlash, accused of prioritizing politics over safety. The tragic collision has reignited a heated debate on whether the agency’s DEI agenda has undermined public safety.
