On April 28, air traffic controllers lost all radar and radio contact with planes headed into one of the nation’s largest airports.
For nearly 90 seconds, air traffic controllers couldn’t see, hear, or communicate with flights inbound to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/05/air-traffic-controllers-newark-airport-delays.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newark Liberty International Airport</a> — a horrifying blackout that underscores the urgent need for a complete overhaul of our air traffic control system.
The culprits were a fried copper wire transmitter and a failed backup communications line — symptoms of an antiquated air traffic control infrastructure that faces mounting pressure with every passing day.
Although flight remains the safest form of commercial travel, we shouldn’t tempt fate. It’s foolish and negligent to continue standard operating procedures amid the aviation sector’s rapid deterioration.
At present, <a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-108162" target="_blank" rel="noopener">76%</a> of all functioning air traffic control systems are “unsustainable” or “potentially unsustainable.” Moreover, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/31/business/air-traffic-controllers-understaffed.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">90% of towers nationwide</a> are significantly understaffed amid glaring failures in recruitment and training.
But these visible failures signal a deeper problem with American aviation: consistent obstruction of necessary investments in America’s aviation infrastructure.
Congress has repeatedly failed to allocate enough funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Even when it does provide funding, it is often distributed by agencies in an inefficient manner due to burdensome regulatory processes. At times, these bureaucratic hurdles block funding altogether.
With all the wasteful spending and other non-essential things American taxpayers fund, upgrading the nation&#8217;s air traffic control system is, correctly, a top priority for President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
But if we expect to keep our airways safe and secure, and ensure that America has the best air traffic control system in the world, it also needs to be a top priority for Congress.
To make matters worse, the FAA is presently without clear, stable leadership. Nearly two months after the president’s nomination of Bryan Bedford to lead the FAA, Congress has yet to schedule his confirmation hearing. Bedford’s nomination has received overwhelming support from airline industry leaders, and his swift confirmation would expedite the implementation of necessary reforms in American aviation.
Recently, Secretary Duffy reiterated the urgency of enacting such reforms, unveiling a comprehensive plan to realize Trump’s vision to restore safety and excellence to the industry. The plan includes immediate emergency funding for the most critical system updates, multi-year budgets so the FAA can prioritize innovation, and supercharging the air traffic controller training and hiring pipeline.
Cooperation from enforcement and budgeting agencies and their leaders is critical for implementing this ambitious and necessary plan and ensuring that funding is directed toward the most acute areas of concern. Once Congress moves to provide funding, swift action and coordination from departments like the Office of Management and Budget, where I once served, is paramount to seamless air travel and this plan’s success.
The funding approval and regulatory enforcement processes must be expedited so that funds can easily and efficiently reach air traffic control towers, operators, and training centers. We cannot allow these urgent reforms to be derailed by bureaucratic backlogs, red tape, and delays in leadership appointments.
Frugality to the extreme can quickly become recklessness — especially when it means gambling with the lives of pilots and passengers. There is no badge of honor for continuing to push off essential upgrades to ensure safety in the skies. We must ensure that the funding Congress allocates is distributed in a rational, efficient manner.
Once implemented, Secretary Duffy’s proposals will radically overhaul our air traffic control infrastructure by building six new control towers, replacing antiquated radars and communications systems — including WWII-era radar monitoring platforms and 1980s technologies like floppy disks — with updated wireless and satellite technologies, and streamlining hardware and software systems for a common national platform.
The American people have entrusted their safety to the government. President Trump and Secretary Duffy have answered that call with a plan of action. Once congressional funding is secured, it will be our agency leaders’ duty to steward taxpayer dollars toward this end in an efficient and responsible manner.
Overhauling our air traffic control systems will be a joint effort between Congress, the president, and our executive agencies. Together, their regulatory and enforcement work must be a catalyst, not a speed bump, in making the president’s vision a reality.
Once a paragon of innovation and excellence, America’s air traffic system has descended into atrophy. But this administration finally has a chance to enact the change we so desperately need — a chance to restore American ingenuity and maintain safety in flight in perpetuity.
Joe Grogan served as Assistant to President Donald Trump for Domestic Policy from 2019-2020 and Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget from 2017-2019.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

US-AVIATION-FAA-TRAVEL

It’s Time For Congress To Stop Gambling With Airline Safety

Air Travel

Airline Crash

Airplane

Congress

Donald Trump

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Sean Duffy

Dozens of commercial aircraft were left virtually flying blind after a Monday outage at Denver airport’s air traffic control left pilots unable to communicate with controllers for 90 seconds.
The incident occurred Monday afternoon at the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center in Longmont, which oversees aircraft movement across nine states.
Between 15 and 20 commercial aircraft approaching Denver International Airport lost all communication with controllers when multiple radio transmitters failed.
While initial reports indicated an outage of up to six minutes, the FAA has since clarified that the outage was approximately 90 seconds, and that it is &#8220;investigating&#8221; the cause.
According to ABC7, controllers were already <a href="https://www.denver7.com/news/investigations/outage-leaves-up-to-20-pilots-headed-to-denver-airport-unable-to-contact-air-traffic-control-on-monday">operating</a> on a backup fifth frequency when the system crashed, as four of the other frequencies had already crashed.
When the final frequency went down, a controller eventually reached one pilot using a seldom-used distress channel, who then relayed instructions to other aircraft.
David Riley, a retired air traffic controller with 32 years of experience, said this incident was a sign that the FAA’s equipment was “getting old” and is no longer a risk that should be tolerated.
“The biggest risk is you have airplanes that you&#8217;re not talking to. And then, therefore, the pilots have to try to figure it out themselves,” Riley said. &#8220;They still had radar coverage, but that&#8217;s like watching a car crash happen and not be able to do anything about it.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s not acceptable. And the biggest problem is the fact that the FAA does not have stable funding to replace this equipment and maintain it in an appropriate fashion.&#8221;
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently acknowledged the outdated infrastructure problem.
“We should be using fiber, but it&#8217;s copper. We use radar from the 1970s. Some of them are from the 80s, but most of them are from the 70s,” Duffy said. “So, this technology is 50 years old that our controllers use to scan the skies and keep airplanes separated from one another.”
The Transportation Department now <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/08/us-news/transportation-secretary-sean-duffy-calls-for-multi-billion-dollar-overhaul-of-failing-air-traffic-control-system-by-2028/">plans</a> to ask Congress for billions to overhaul the system, including replacing 618 radars and upgrading all FAA computers that controllers use.
The FAA has experienced severe staffing shortages, with Newark Liberty International Airport recently <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/business/newark-airport-delays-staffing-shortage.html">operating</a> with just three controllers when 14 were needed.
In a statement to Fox Business on Thursday, the FAA <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/denver-air-traffic-controllers-temporarily-lose-radio-communications-aircraft">admitted</a> that the Denver outage was partially due to how the &#8220;antiquated air traffic control system is affecting our workforce.&#8221;
The incident comes amid growing concerns about air safety following several high-profile aviation <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/small-plane-crashes-on-busy-florida-road-killing-all-three-on-board?author=Nathan+Gay&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=10&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Small+Plane+Crashes+On+Busy+Florida+Road%2C+Killing+All+Three+On+Board">accidents</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/passengers-forced-to-evacuate-after-delta-jet-bursts-into-flames?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=6&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Passengers+Forced+To+Evacuate+After+Delta+Jet+Bursts+Into+Flames">near-misses</a> across the United States in recent months.

Denver Air Traffic Goes Dark, Leaving Nearly 20 Planes Stranded Mid-Air In Latest Scare

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U.S.

A Spirit Airlines passenger posted a video which has since gone viral showing cockroaches crawling around on the inside of the aircraft, which prompted a response from airline reps.
Symoné Beez originally shared the post to X on May 11. “Never again will I fly [Spirit Airlines],” she wrote in the video caption. “I&#8217;ve flown over 500,000 miles on Delta and have never in my life seen roaches on a plane this is crazy.”
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Never again will I fly <a href="https://twitter.com/SpiritAirlines?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpiritAirlines</a> . I&#39;ve flown over 500,000 miles on Delta and have never in my life seen roaches on a plane this is crazy. <a href="https://t.co/gIIMHpsOG9">pic.twitter.com/gIIMHpsOG9</a>
&mdash; Symoné B. Beez (@SymoneBeez) <a href="https://twitter.com/SymoneBeez/status/1921526062887936034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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One video showed a brown roach crawling up the back of a chair from the back seat pocket as another airline passenger murmured in the background. Another clip showed a roach crawling up the plane’s wall.
The next day, Beez posted a follow up that said, “Update I was given a $60 [Spirit Airlines] credit… I won&#8217;t be flying Spirit again one and done for me lol.”
The airline passenger posted a photo of the letter she received with the voucher. It said, “We sincerely apologize for what happened on your recent trip. We care about your satisfaction and want to make this right. Please accept our apologies along with this voucher for future travel to any of our destinations.”
She also responded to commenters who said cockroaches were commonly seen on planes.
“All the people saying roaches are common on planes are lying LMAO I&#8217;ve flown 550,000 miles with  Delta. I&#8217;ve never even seen an ant on Delta let alone two big a** roaches in first class,” Beez wrote.
Spirit Airlines responded to the video by issuing a statement saying the company was &#8220;aware of the video&#8221; and their &#8220;maintenance team thoroughly inspected the aircraft involved and addressed the issue.&#8221;
&#8220;We maintain high standards of cleanliness across our fleet and want all of our guests to feel comfortable when traveling with us,&#8221; a spokesperson told <a href="https://people.com/cockroaches-captured-on-video-crawling-up-the-walls-of-spirit-airlines-cabin-to-trapped-passenger-s-horror-11734815">People</a>.
The clip of the crawling roaches has 8 million views on X as of Thursday. Many commenters weighed in on the situation, including those who stated they were airline employees.
“I’ve deada** never seen a roach on a plane and been on all different kind of planes except Spirit,” one person <a href="https://x.com/camperry21/status/1921982318488559677">noted</a>.
“[I]t’s not common, but it’s not unheard of,” another person <a href="https://x.com/nonamerising/status/1922047588716388837">replied</a>. “I worked for a major airline for years. those planes don’t get deep cleaned like you’d think, and people (travelers and employees) can bring from home all kinds of stuff. roaches, bedbugs, etc. I’ve seen roaches in both DCA and PHL.”
“I used to work for a major airline and have flown internationally and domestically. I have never seen so much as an ant on a plane. Spirit is just ridiculous. They’re so awful that I forfeited my return ticket on them. I ate it &amp; paid another carrier more because, NO,” someone else <a href="https://x.com/alloydesq/status/1922003862367465490">wrote</a>.

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Video Of Roaches Crawling Walls Of Spirit Airlines Flight Goes Viral; Airline Responds

Airlines

Flights

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United States

The Army put helicopter flights to the Pentagon on hold on Monday after another incident last week forced air traffic controllers to divert two commercial planes that were preparing to land at Reagan National Airport (DCA), POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/05/army-helicopter-flights-reagan-airport-00327392" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
The 12th Aviation Battalion, which transports political and military VIPs, will not be allowed to fly near DCA as the Army conducts an internal inquiry after a military helicopter reportedly &#8220;took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport&#8221; last Thursday. The incident prompted commercial flights to abort their landings, according to POLITICO, which cited &#8220;an email sent by an FAA official.&#8221;
Last week&#8217;s aborted landings came just over three months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane near DCA, killing all 64 people aboard the plane and all three helicopter pilots.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy <a href="https://x.com/SecDuffy/status/1918448336048206226" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Friday that the Army helicopters&#8217; &#8220;scenic route&#8221; was &#8220;unacceptable,&#8221; adding that he would speak with the Defense Department &#8220;to ask why the hell our rules were disregarded.&#8221; An Army spokesman disputed that the flight was &#8220;scenic,&#8221; calling the characterization &#8220;inappropriate,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2025/05/02/national-dca-airliners-helicopter-danger/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a>. According to the Army official, the helicopter had been approved to land at the Pentagon, but was asked by the Pentagon flight tower to circle again before landing. The helicopter&#8217;s second pass appears to have caused air traffic controllers at DCA to divert two planes&#8217; landings, the Army spokesman said.
The helicopter&#8217;s flight on Thursday was done &#8220;in accordance with published FAA flight routes,&#8221; according to the Army.
Congressional leaders called on the Army and the FAA to prevent more dangerous incidents between military helicopters and commercial aircraft around DCA. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/sentedcruz/status/1918452272624701941?s=46&amp;t=D2Xwf7zbmcagvzLI-U0uIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the Army was &#8220;once again putting the traveling public at risk.&#8221;
&#8220;Thank God there was a decisive response from air traffic controllers and pilots, or else these two close calls could have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives,&#8221; Cruz (R-TX) added. &#8220;I believe it’s time for the FAA to act swiftly and assert control over the national airspace so the Army stops running air taxis for military officials near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.&#8221;
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), chairman of the aviation subcommittee, <a href="https://x.com/JerryMoran/status/1918428042978054438" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;The tragic accident at DCA in January and the data that has come to light on near-misses at DCA over the last four years overwhelmingly demonstrate that new safety measures must be implemented before military helicopters resume operations near the airport. &#8230; The Army and FAA need to reevaluate their operations and return to Capitol Hill to explain what needs to be done to make certain the DCA airspace is safe. We already had a tragedy that should not have happened.&#8221;
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) added, “It is outrageous that only three months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter tragically collided with a passenger jet, the same Army brigade again flew a helicopter too close to passenger jets on final approach at DCA. It is far past time for [Defense] Secretary [Pete] Hegseth and the FAA to give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves.”

Army Black Hawk

Army Helicopter Flights Suspended Near DCA After Two Planes Forced To Abort Landings

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U.S. Army

Hundreds of passengers were forced to evacuate a Delta jet through the emergency slide after an engine caught fire at Orlando International Airport on Monday.
Delta Air Lines Flight 1213, an Airbus 330, was preparing for departure at around 11:15 a.m. for a quick flight to Atlanta and had just pushed back from the gate when one of the engines burst into flames, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/delta-plane-engine-fire-orlando-airport-passengers-evacuate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. There were 282 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and two pilots onboard, according to the airline.
A <a href="https://x.com/ExxAlerts/status/1914351671611978217" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> on social media showed a large flame shooting out from an engine on the right side of the plane as passengers slid down the emergency slide. According to Delta, the plane&#8217;s crew evacuated the Airbus after they noticed a fire in the tailpipe of one of its two main engines.
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Passengers had to evacuate on emergency slides after a Delta plane caught fire on the tarmac at Orlando International Airport on Monday, the FAA said.
Delta Air Lines Flight 1213, bound for Atlanta, was pushing back from the gate for departure around 11:15 a.m. when an engine… <a href="https://t.co/kLJ1LR7DeF">pic.twitter.com/kLJ1LR7DeF</a>
&mdash; CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1914378120058073479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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No one was injured, according to initial reports, and the passengers were taken back to the terminal, where they will board another aircraft to take them to Atlanta, according to Delta. The flames were contained by fire crews at the airport.
The cause of the fire was not initially known, and the Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating the incident.
&#8220;Nothing is more important than safety and Delta teams will work to get our customers to their final destinations as soon as possible,&#8221; Delta said in a statement.
In February, 18 people were injured when a Delta plane flipped upside down after landing at the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada. A preliminary report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada on the crash landing found that the pilot of the Delta passenger jet, which took off from Minneapolis, was descending at twice the speed that qualifies as a &#8220;hard landing,&#8221; The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/world/canada/delta-plane-crash-toronto-report.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.

Delta Airlines Airbus

Passengers Forced To Evacuate After Delta Jet Bursts Into Flames

Air and Space

Delta Airlines

Florida

An air traffic controller at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, was arrested and charged with battery and assault last week after a fight broke out in the control tower.
The Daily Mail <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14548725/Air-traffic-controllers-fight-Reagan-National-Airport-control-tower.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> last Friday that two air traffic controllers began throwing punches after an argument. At least six air traffic controllers and a supervisor were likely working when the fight broke out. On Monday, POLITICO <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/air-traffic-controller-charged-scuffle-202004507.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Damon Marsalis Gaines, 39, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was arrested by airport authorities and charged in connection with the scuffle.
“The employee is on administrative leave while we investigate the matter,” the Federal Aviation Administration told <a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/5225741-reagan-airport-controller-arrested/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a>. The FAA did not provide any further details about the charges or the nature of the fight in the air traffic control tower.
The arrest of an air traffic controller at DCA follows a deadly plane crash near the airport in January when an American Airlines flight with 64 people aboard collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. While the investigation into the crash continues, authorities believe that DCA&#8217;s air traffic controllers properly warned the helicopter pilots about the inbound American Airlines flight.
National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-plane-crash-investigation-ntsb-faa-9da42d267bf44049ecc57763961b0ac4#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in February that the helicopter&#8217;s cockpit recorder appeared to indicate that incomplete radio transmission likely prevented the pilots from hearing air traffic controllers telling them to &#8220;pass behind&#8221; the passenger jet seconds before the collision.
Lawmakers have called for the U.S. military to stop conducting helicopter training runs near the busy airport, and the FAA has banned those particular helicopter routes when planes are flying into the shorter runway at DCA. During a Congressional hearing on the crash, both Republicans and Democrats agreed that the tragedy could have been prevented.

DCA Air Traffic Controller Arrested On Assault Charges After Fight In Control Tower

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Global travel was disrupted on Friday as London’s Heathrow Airport shut down due to a fire that broke out at an electrical station. 
Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, announced it would be closed until midnight due to a fire that caused two terminals to lose power. The fire, which broke out Thursday, has already <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/londons-heathrow-airport-closed-all-day-friday-after-fire-causes-power-outage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impacted</a> more than 1,300 flights, with authorities telling travelers not to come to the airport. Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks-heathrow-airport-experiences-power-outage-due-fire-substation-2025-03-21/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the closure could impact up to 290,000 travelers.
“Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March,” the airport posted on X. “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage.
To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March.
Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport… <a href="https://t.co/7SWNJP8ojd">pic.twitter.com/7SWNJP8ojd</a>
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) <a href="https://twitter.com/HeathrowAirport/status/1902911632679805313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The airport later <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/business/money-report/britains-heathrow-airport-closes-friday-after-substation-fire-causes-significant-power-outage/4140238/?os=io....dbr5yxkr%26ref%3Dapp&amp;ref=app" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it did not estimate when power would be “reliably restored.” 
&#8220;We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens,” a spokesman said. 
The London Fire Brigade <a href="https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2025/march/fire-at-electrical-substation-hayes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the blaze involved around 6,600 gallons of cooling oil. London Police said it was working with firefighting authorities to determine the cause, saying the investigation was ongoing. 
“While there is currently no indication of foul play we retain an open mind at this time,” the police said in a statement. 
The investigation is being led by London’s Counter Terrorism Command because of the location of the power station and the “impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure,” the Metropolitan Police <a href="https://x.com/metpoliceuk/status/1903058191736549865" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
In addition to the airport disruption, more than 67,000 homes in the area lost power due to the fire, and around 179 people were evacuated from the area by firefighters and police. 
&#8220;I would like to take this opportunity to thank firefighters and Control officers for their courage and professionalism to bring this incident under control in what were very challenging,” said Deputy Commissioner at London Fire Brigade Jonathan Smith.

Fire At Substation Grounds Flights At Heathrow For The Day

Thousands Of Travelers Left In Limbo As Fire Shuts Down One Of World’s Busiest Airports

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United Kingdom

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Elon Musk&#8217;s Starlink satellite internet service has emerged as a potential solution for the Federal Aviation Administration&#8217;s aging air traffic control systems, with the agency testing the technology even as Democratic lawmakers raised conflict of interest concerns.
Starlink’s internet terminals are being <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/starlink-faa-contract-elon-musk-conflict-of-interest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tested</a> at multiple FAA sites for a possible air traffic control upgrade, according to CBS News.
Starlink appears poised to take over the $2 billion contract given to telecom provider Verizon in 2023, with Verizon tasked with implementing fiber optic cables to replace the aging, ground-based communications system currently in place.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has confirmed that the agency is reviewing various proposals, but said no final decisions have been made.
Earlier this week, Elon Musk criticized the existing air traffic control network, posting on X that the “Verizon system is not working and so is putting air travelers at serious risk.”
Soon after, he clarified that the “ancient system” he was referring to was created by defense contractor L3Harris and that Verizon’s new replacement technology is “not yet operational.”
Verizon spokesman Kevin Israel told reporters that the company is “working on building the next generation system for the FAA,” adding that they are “at the beginning of a multiyear contract to replace antiquated, legacy systems.”
Bloomberg News reported that Musk recently approved the shipment of 4,000 Starlink terminals to the FAA for potential testing, citing an individual familiar with the matter.
Some Democrats are concerned that this represents a conflict of interest for the administration, as Musk is heavily involved in the administration and donated more than a quarter billion dollars to the Trump 2024 campaign.
“How much richer will Elon get with an FAA contract to another one of his companies? My ELON MUSK Act would stop this blatant corruption,” Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) wrote on X.
However, the FAA clarified in a Monday statement that they have been testing Starlink satellites “since the prior administration to increase reliability at remote sites.”

In this photo illustration a Starlink logo of a satellite

FAA Tests Musk’s Starlink Satellites For Air Traffic Control Upgrades

Elon Musk

SpaceX

Technology

Authorities said on Friday that there are no survivors after finding a Bering Air Cessna Caravan with 10 people on board that crashed on sea ice after going missing over the Norton Sound in Alaska on Thursday.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, rescuers looking for the missing aircraft spotted the wreckage from a helicopter, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/missing-aircraft-alaska-search-10-people-eb496188285ed54c9a527f658d4ff70a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The Cessna Caravan, which is a single-engine propeller plane, left Unalakleet, Alaska, at 2:37 p.m. local time and was supposed to land in Nome, Alaska, which is a short flight across the Norton Sound. At around 4:00 p.m., Alaska State troopers received word around 4:00 p.m. that the plane was overdue, and authorities began search operations.
The Coast Guard said that at 3:18, the airplane had “some kind of event which caused them to experience a rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed.&#8221; Visibility was poor at the time of the crash as the area experienced light snow and fog.
All 10 people onboard the flight, which included nine passengers and one pilot, were adults, Lt. Ben Endres of the Alaska State Troopers said, according to the AP. Bering Air is based in Nome and operates passenger and charter airline services. Since the sea ice is unstable, authorities are trying to move fast to recover the bodies and any parts of the plane that will aid officials in their investigation into the crash.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a> (1/2) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USCG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USCG</a> has ended its search for the missing plane after the aircraft was located approx. 34 miles southeast of Nome. 3 individuals were found inside and reported to be deceased. <a href="https://t.co/XndzBYHdCE">pic.twitter.com/XndzBYHdCE</a>
&mdash; USCGAlaska (@USCGAlaska) <a href="https://twitter.com/USCGAlaska/status/1888023010877260283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“They are on the ice as we speak,” said Nome Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim West. “The conditions out there are dynamic, and so we’ve got to do it safely and the fastest way we can.”
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski addressed the crash during a press conference, saying, “It’s hard to accept the reality of our loss.” Nome Mayor John Handeland added, “Nome is a strong community, and in challenging times we come together and support each other. I expect the outpouring of support to continue in the coming days as we all work to recover from this tragic incident.&#8221;
The crash is the third on U.S. soil in 2025. Last month, an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three service members collided with an American Eagle flight that had 64 people on board. The crash sent both aircraft into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people involved. Days later, a medical jet carrying a pediatric patient crashed in north Philadelphia, killing all six people on board and one person on the ground and injuring more than 20 others.

USCG Alaska

Missing Alaska Plane Found; Authorities Say There Are No Survivors

Airplane crash

Alaska

Coast Guard

A plane with 10 people aboard went missing while flying from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska, on Thursday, sparking a search and rescue operation from state and federal authorities.
The Bering Air Caravan airplane with one pilot and nine passengers left Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. local time, and Alaska State troopers received word around 4:00 p.m. that the plane was overdue in Nome, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plane-missing-alaska-10-on-board-nome/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&amp;linkId=740695350" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The plane appeared to be traveling over the Norton Sound when it potentially encountered near-whiteout fog. FlightRadar <a href="https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n321ba#39086384" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> showed a Bering Air Caravan plane last reporting data at 3:16 p.m.
&#8220;U.S. Coast Guard District 17 responded to an aircraft emergency notification from Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 4:30 p.m. today for a Cessna Caravan that reported to have 10 people aboard,&#8221; U.S. Coast Guard Alaska <a href="https://x.com/USCGAlaska/status/1887733606472388886" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement. &#8220;An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Kodiak to search their last known position. The aircraft was 12 miles offshore transiting from Unalakleet to Nome when its position was lost. More information to follow as it becomes available.&#8221;
The Bering Air Cessna Caravan is a single-engine propeller plane. Bering Air is based in Nome and operates passenger and charter airline services.
Due to low visibility, the search plane flew over the water and along the shoreline with equipment that could help locate the missing aircraft. Authorities told people not to form their own search parties due to the weather. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department said, &#8220;We continue to expand search efforts to as many avenues as possible until the plane is located.&#8221;
In an update at 12:30 a.m. local time on Friday, the fire department said the plane was still missing.
&#8220;We do not have any updated information on the location of the missing aircraft. Crews are still searching on the ground, canvassing as much area as possible,&#8221; the fire department <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NVFDAlaska" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> added. &#8220;The National Guard C-130 reported they found nothing found so far. The Airforce also sent a C-130 resumed the search and also have reported no visuals, and have one hour of flight search time remaining. If nothing further is reported, the next update will be at 9am.&#8221;
The incident comes after an Army Black Hawk helicopter with three service members collided with an American Eagle flight that had 64 people on board. The crash sent both aircraft into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people involved. Days later, a medical jet carrying a pediatric patient crashed in north Philadelphia, killing all six people on board and one person on the ground and injuring more than 20 others.

U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter

Authorities Begin Search And Rescue Operation After Plane Goes Missing In Alaska

Frontier Airlines says they’re all about “inclusion,” but that inclusion wasn’t very evident in the airline’s treatment of Russian mixed-martial artist Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Khabib was escorted off a flight by Frontier Airlines after a dispute over whether he could stay in his emergency row exit seat. The all-time great fighter was on his way to Southern California to help train his cousin for a fight on Saturday — a fight that Jeremy’s Razors is sponsoring. 
While sitting in his seat on the emergency exit row awaiting takeoff, Khabib <a href="https://x.com/TeamKhabib/status/1878562981296165094" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alleged</a> that he was approached by a woman “who comes to me with questions was very rude from the very beginning, even though I speak very decent English and can understand everything and agreed to assist, she still insists on removing me from my seat.”
Khabib added, “What was the base for that, racial, national or other one, I&#8217;m not sure.
But after 2 minutes of conversation, she called security and I was deplaned from this aircraft, after 1.5 hour I boarded another airline one and left to my destination. I did my best to stay calm and respectful as you can see on the video. But those crew members could do better next time and just be nice with clients.” 
According to a statement Frontier Airlines gave to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/13/sport/khabib-nurmagomedov-frontier-airlines-plane-spt-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>, “a flight attendant initiated the customary briefing for exit row passengers” and Khabib, “who was seated in an exit row, was asked multiple times if he was willing and able to assist in the event of an emergency.”
“According to the flight attendant, Mr. Nurmagomedov did not respond, despite repeated attempts, which placed him in non-compliance with FAA requirements. As a result, he was asked to move to a different upgraded seat which he refused to do,” the statement added. “Therefore, in accordance with airline and FAA policy, he was asked to deplane. The decision to deplane the customer was in no way related to his ethnicity and we have refunded him and his traveling companions for their flights.”
Frontier Airlines — which has gone out of its way to preach the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI message, saying that “The Sky is for Everyone” — apparently didn’t believe the sky was for Khabib, at least not on that plane. 
A video on social media shows part of the interaction between Khabib and a gate agent who came on the plane to confront the fighter after a flight attendant complained. In the video, Khabib tells the gate agent that he knows English and can help assist in the emergency exit row. He added that the flight attendant “doesn’t understand what she’s talking about.” 
“It’s not about the language,” the agent said, adding, “So what we’re going to do is we’re either gonna have you switch your seat or because my flight attendants are not allowing you to sit in the exit row or you’re gonna have to get off this plane and then we’ll have to re-book you.” 
“Because of what?” Khabib asked. 
“Because they’re not comfortable with you sitting in the emergency exit row.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Khabib Nurmagomedov was removed from his flight last night after a dispute over sitting in the emergency exit row <a href="https://t.co/WBRpm7gWiu">pic.twitter.com/WBRpm7gWiu</a>
&mdash; Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) <a href="https://twitter.com/HappyPunch/status/1878465696771780666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Frontier sent a statement to MMA Junkie on Monday, <a href="https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2025/01/frontier-airlines-khabib-nurmagomedov-statement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a>, that the videos on social media do not “capture” the entire interaction “and instead show a subsequent interaction after a gate agent entered the plane and reiterated the option to be reseated.”
As a result of the customer’s initial unresponsiveness and repeated declinations of a seat change, he was asked to deplane per airline and FAA policy. The decision to deplane the customer was in no way related to his ethnicity, and we have refunded him and his traveling companions for their flights,” Frontier stated.  
Frontier Airlines is a major supporter of woke causes such as <a href="https://www.flyfrontier.com/diversity-equity-inclusion/?mobile=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEI</a> and LGBTQ “Pride Month,” <a href="https://www.flyfrontier.com/travel-tails/posts/2024/our-people/the-sky-is-for-everyone/?mobile=true#:~:text=Lesbian%2C%20Gay%2C%20Bisexual%2C%20Transgender%2C%20and%20Queer%20(LGBTQ+),Daniel%20Gilbert%20has%20worked%20for%20Frontier%20for" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writing</a> in 2022, “Every June we celebrate Pride Month, which commemorates the triumphs and challenges of the LGBTQIA+ community.” 
Khabib will coach his cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov, for his upcoming fight against Merab Dvalishvili for gold in UFC 311 on Saturday in Inglewood, California, sponsored by <a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/collections/bestsellers/products/precision-5-trial-kit-2?selling_plan=3820880085" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeremy’s Razors. Shave Boldly, Live Freely. Order a Jeremy’s Razors starter set today</a>.
<div id="attachment_858331" style="width: 668px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-858331" class="wp-image-858331 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/300x600_UFCXJR-658x576.jpg" alt="UFC/Jeremy's Razors" width="658" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/300x600_UFCXJR-658x576.jpg 658w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/300x600_UFCXJR-300x263.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/300x600_UFCXJR.jpg 685w" sizes="(max-width: 658px) 100vw, 658px" /></a>UFC/Jeremy&#8217;s Razors</div>
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‘Very Rude’: UFC Champion Khabib Removed From Flight By Woke Airline After Emergency Row Dispute

Jeremy's Razors

Multiple unauthorized drones flew above the Palisades fire in Santa Monica, California, on Friday afternoon, forcing important firefighting aircraft to leave the area for safety, The Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/incredibly-dangerous-more-unauthorized-drones-043914110.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADfuVX9LTvTCkrvYKXFQUr71ziMLT9b2r3ZM46qkPRV-apjCPc1oNv65InftuEQT3bE16A5-fvb4OtRCtbXgPKdk7yPnxb-6lOmB7wTifw5LNgmLIUdwXMD23NIDdbD0nN_EGkB5tVycHa7JT07XmSD5NVEVhlIvO0MW0xgoPzbG" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Authorities decided to move the firefighting aircraft out of the area after a drone collided with a Super Scooper aircraft on Thursday. That plane was grounded for several days to be repaired, taking away a key asset for firefighters as the Palisades fire continues to burn. Authorities said that the drones were spotted near the southeastern portion of the fire around 4:40 p.m. on Friday, according to the Times.
“Because of safety, we have to get all the aircraft out of the area until we know the drones are gone,” said Chris Thomas, the public information officer for the Palisades fire. “So that is very dangerous, because it takes water-dropping capability away from the fire.”
“If we have to take helicopters out of an area and the wind catches one of those cinders in that area and lifts it up, we could ignite a whole other area,” Thomas added.
The Palisades fire, which has already blazed through over 22,000 acres in Los Angeles County, is only at 11% containment as of the latest update from the Cal Fire on Saturday morning. New evacuation orders were issued in Brentwood and Encino on Friday evening as the fire moved toward Mandeville Canyon, the Times <a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. At least two people have <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/01/10/los-angeles-fires-updates-california-palisades-eaton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> in the Palisades fire, while at least five people have been reported dead from the Eaton fire on L.A.&#8217;s east side.
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As the fires continue to rage in Southern California, airplanes and helicopters are vital for firefighters seeking to protect communities from the flames. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement on Thursday warning drone operators of the consequences of interfering with firefighting efforts.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands,&#8221; the FAA said. &#8220;Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations when temporary flight restrictions are in place.&#8221;
L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said that the FBI is planning to come to the area to assist in ensuring that no more drones are endangering firefighting efforts.
“This is not just harmless fun. This is incredibly dangerous,” Thomas, the Palisades fire spokesman, added. “Seriously, what if that plane had gone down? It could have taken out a row of homes. It could have taken out a school.”

Palisades fire

Unauthorized Drones Threaten Safety Of Firefighting Aircraft Above Palisades Fire

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