Carey wants answers about increased near-collisions of commercial airlines

There’s been a frightening rise in the numbers of commercial airline near-collisions and the Biden administration needs to take notice, says U.S. Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH).

“American airline passengers should not have to fear that the next time they board a flight it might be their last,” Rep. Carey said on Tuesday in a statement. “This year, there have been more than 300 near-collisions across America’s airports, with 46 near-collisions occurring in the month of July alone. This is unacceptable, especially as any one of these incidents could have turned tragic.”

Rep. Carey pointed out in a Sept. 18 letter sent to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicates that during the current fiscal year there have been 1,590 runway incursions through Sept. 11, with more than 300 being near-collisions between commercial airplanes.

“I find this report to be quite disturbing,” wrote Rep. Carey. “The FAA and other regulatory bodies have established strict guidelines and procedures to ensure and help facilitate the smooth flow of air traffic. These near-collisions indicate a clear deviation from these practices.”

A near-collision occurs when two planes get too close to each other, forcing a pilot to slam on the brakes, according to information provided by the congressman’s staff. And because the airplanes are going well over 150 miles per hour at takeoff and landing, such incidents could easily turn deadly, the information says.

Rep. Carey requested that Buttigieg answer several questions by Oct. 25, including what “major factors” are contributing to the rising numbers of near-collisions, and what his department is doing to end them. 

“As airline travel continues to surge towards pre-pandemic levels, it’s imperative that airline passenger safety remain at the forefront of the Department of Transportation’s priorities,” wrote Rep. Carey.