Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is offering support for American Airlines after Wednesday night's crash. The crash near Reagan Washington National Airport killed all 60 passengers and all four crew members.
"Our hearts go out to everybody who's affected, families, folks at American and PSA," says Southwest Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan. "The airline industry, while we all compete vigorously, we're a community, so we're doing everything we can to support American."
Jordan says the "system is safer than it's ever been." This was American's first fatal crash since November of 2001. Southwest last had a fatal incident in 2018 when the NTSB says engine failure led to part of the cowl striking the fuselage and breaking a window, leading to rapid depressurization and one person's death.
Despite a record of safety, Jordan says airlines will work with the new Trump Administration to make improvements for air travel.
"We need the things we have needed for decades now. We need FAA system modernization. We need to get our air traffic control system staffed," he says. "We're focused on that because that will make the system even better."
Jordan says the National Transportation Safety Board does a "fantastic job" investigating crashes. He says the system can be further improved from the information gained during the investigation.
Jordan says passengers are already paying taxes and fees that should be dedicated to ensuring safety.
"A lot of that is intended [for air safety and technology], but there are also mechanisms that allow those funds to be diverted to other things like deficit reduction," he says.
He says he will work with the Trump Administration, and he believes "they see the same priorities" to modernize the FAA, TSA, and air traffic control.
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