The air traffic control tower at Reagan National Airport may have been understaffed the night of the collision between an incoming flight and an Army helicopter.
The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the cause of the crash but said that on Monday, interviews with air traffic controllers were finished.
Across the country, the Federal Aviation Administration has been working to fill open jobs at air traffic control centers. The FAA says it has hired 4,975 air traffic controllers over the past five years and "plans to hire and train several thousand air traffic controllers over the next decade."
Despite the plan, the FAA says its most recent assessment in 2023 showed 42 open positions at radar facilities that track flights while en route to a destination. Two locations are in Texas. Combining certified professional controllers and those in development, Fort Worth ARTCC was ten people over its target of 295. Houston ARTCC was 19 people behind its target of 302.
At terminals across the country, the FAA had 1,143 openings for air traffic controllers.
Including certified air traffic controllers and those in development, the tower at DFW Airport had 53 of 58 jobs filled; Love Field had 22 of 26 jobs filled. Dallas Fort Worth's Terminal Radar Control Facility had 102 of 111 positions filled.
Addison airport had one opening and 16 total positions; Meacham had six openings among 23 total spots. Including those in development, Alliance Airport in North Fort Worth actually had 20 people on board with a target of just 15.
The number of total positions at each airport is a target negotiated by the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
In 2023, the FAA says 59% of airports met the agency's own staffing target when people in training are included. Just eight percent met the target negotiated between the FAA and union.
Other airports across Texas also had shortages. Houston's Bush Intercontinental had 33 of 39 jobs filled; Hobby had 20 of 22 positions filled.
Austin had just 42 air traffic controllers with a target of 60. San Antonio had 46 air traffic controllers with a target of 56.
A complete list of airports, the most recent staffing numbers and targets is available at https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/afn-aba-20240509-cwp-congress.pdf.
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