An FAA Worker allegedly assaulted a co-worker last week in the control tower at Reagan National Airport.
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Per a report by CBS News, authorities responded to a fight in the DCA control tower last week. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said the altercation occurred on Thursday. Police arrived at the scene and arrested Damon Gaines, 39, from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He now faces charges of assault and battery, and the FAA has placed him on administrative leave. A spokesperson for the FAA said Gaines is on leave while they investigate the situation, per Fox News.
CBS reportedly contacted a union that represents air traffic controllers, but they declined to comment. It remains unclear what instigated the scuffle in the tower.
Reagan National Airport Finds Itself In The News Yet Again
The incident is under particular scrutiny because of its location. Back in January, an American Airlines plane crashed into a Black Hawk Helicopter as it came in to land at the Reagan National Airport. The incident, which is the worst US aviation disaster in over twenty years, claimed the lives of everybody on board both aircraft.
Speaking after the incident, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said that the incident was preventable. He also noted that the control tower and aircraft were in contact with each other as usual. The control tower, in particular, plays an integral role in managing air traffic at the airport. During a press conference, Duffy said, "I will say this. There was communication. I would say it was standard communication, so there wasn't a breakdown in communication between the military helicopter and the American Airlines flight."
Military and commercial aircraft have occupied airspace near the airport for years, but a concerning report suggests over 15,000 near misses occurred in the area since October 2021. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy blasted the helicopter routes near the airport, calling them an "intolerable risk to aviation safety." Per the BBC, the FAA has since 'permanently restricted' all non-essential helicopters from the area.
Just a few days ago, a United Airlines plane struck a kite as it came to land at the same airport.
