Latest Federal Aviation Administration News

A woman riding a lawnmower is struck and killed by the wing of an airplane in Oklahoma

Oct. 02, 2023 13:19 PM EDT

BROKEN BOW, Okla. (AP) — A woman riding a lawnmower next to an airport runway was struck and killed by the wing of a small airplane, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Samantha Hayes, 27, of Idabel died Friday at Broken Bow Municipal Airport, about 185 miles (298...

Searchers recover body of pilot of a small plane that crashed into a New Hampshire lake

Oct. 01, 2023 16:41 PM EDT

GILFORD, N.H. (AP) — Searchers have recovered the body of a pilot of a small plane that crashed into a New Hampshire lake Saturday night. The single-engine Cessna 150 crashed into Lake Winnipesaukee near Gilford, New Hampshire. according to the Federal Aviation Administration. ...

Pilot error, training issues were factors in Alaska crash that killed Czech billionaire, report says

Sep. 27, 2023 19:05 PM EDT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The probable cause of a heli-skiing crash in Alaska in 2021 that killed a Czech billionaire and four others was a failure by the pilot to adequately respond to whiteout conditions, a federal accident report released Wednesday concluded. The report from the...

Pilots racing in WWII-era planes die in midair collision shortly after first-second finish in Reno

Sep. 18, 2023 22:36 PM EDT

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Two veteran California pilots were killed over the weekend when their World War II-era planes collided in midair while preparing to land just after finishing first and second in a title race at the National Championship Air Races north of Reno. Officials...

2 pilots killed after their planes collided upon landing at air races in Reno, Nevada

Sep. 17, 2023 18:46 PM EDT

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Two pilots were killed when their planes crashed upon landing at an air racing event Sunday in Reno, authorities said. Officials with the Reno Air Racing Association said the planes collided at the conclusion of the T-6 Gold race around 2:15 p.m. Sunday. ...

FAA restores Mexico aviation to highest safety rating

Sep. 14, 2023 12:31 PM EDT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The United States Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday returned Mexico’s aviation safety rating to the highest level two years after downgrading it. The change will allow Mexican airlines to add new routes to the United States, and U.S. airlines will...

Husband of US Rep. Mary Peltola dies in an airplane crash in Alaska

Sep. 13, 2023 22:17 PM EDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s husband has died in an airplane crash in western Alaska, the latest fatality involving politicians or their loved ones in the nation’s largest state where flights are common because of a limited road system. “We are devastated...

Infrequent inspection of fan blades led to a United jet engine breaking up in 2021, report says

Sep. 08, 2023 20:01 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An engine on a United Airlines jet broke up over Denver in 2021 because of wear and tear on a fan blade that was not adequately inspected for signs of cracking, federal investigators said Friday. The National Transportation Safety Board said manufacturer Pratt...

The Biden administration wants more money and technology to prevent close calls between planes

Sep. 08, 2023 16:04 PM EDT

The Biden administration said Friday it will invest more money in aviation safety and consider requiring planes to be equipped with technology designed to prevent close calls around airports. The moves come after a string of close calls at airports around the country. Federal...

Biden nominates a former Obama official to run the Federal Aviation Administration

Sep. 07, 2023 22:01 PM EDT

President Joe Biden on Thursday nominated a former Obama administration official to lead the Federal Aviation Administration after his first choice withdrew in March after running into opposition from Republican senators. The White House said Biden nominated Michael G. Whitaker, a...