Rachel Abrams

Like, how many planes ideally should be going in and out of that airport if there's only four people who are working at any given time?

This math doesn't work. So then what's the role of the government here? Like, at what point is the FAA supposed to come in and say, this is not safe. You can't fly. You do not have enough people for these planes to land and take off safely. Like, isn't that the whole point of the FAA?

This math doesn't work. So then what's the role of the government here? Like, at what point is the FAA supposed to come in and say, this is not safe. You can't fly. You do not have enough people for these planes to land and take off safely. Like, isn't that the whole point of the FAA?

Okay, so just to be clear, we know there have come points where the FAA has said, these conditions are not safe, you're not allowed to fly. And we know that that hasn't happened at Newark, but we don't actually know where the line is. Do I have that right? You do.

Okay, so just to be clear, we know there have come points where the FAA has said, these conditions are not safe, you're not allowed to fly. And we know that that hasn't happened at Newark, but we don't actually know where the line is. Do I have that right? You do.

So given the fact that the FAA isn't actually pulling the emergency brake, people can't just be expected to continue with the status quo at Newark, right? So is anybody proposing any kind of solutions?

So given the fact that the FAA isn't actually pulling the emergency brake, people can't just be expected to continue with the status quo at Newark, right? So is anybody proposing any kind of solutions?

Kate, I feel like as journalists, when you see a major failure like what happened at Newark within a system that more broadly we know has problems, I feel like our first instincts is to assume this is probably not the only really big problem here. And so I guess the question becomes, are there more Newarks around the country?

Kate, I feel like as journalists, when you see a major failure like what happened at Newark within a system that more broadly we know has problems, I feel like our first instincts is to assume this is probably not the only really big problem here. And so I guess the question becomes, are there more Newarks around the country?

But it's a very valid question. I mean, it's sort of interesting to note here that in the past, if you were a nervous flyer, you were sort of treated as a bit irrational because everybody would say, oh, it's so safe. It's much more dangerous to be in a car. But now it feels like to be nervous is normal just from reading the news, right?

But it's a very valid question. I mean, it's sort of interesting to note here that in the past, if you were a nervous flyer, you were sort of treated as a bit irrational because everybody would say, oh, it's so safe. It's much more dangerous to be in a car. But now it feels like to be nervous is normal just from reading the news, right?

Right. As nerve-wracking as it is to maybe read the news and maybe to listen to this episode, it's still probably important to remember that air travel still remains overwhelmingly safe and, frankly, probably still much safer than getting in a car.

Right. As nerve-wracking as it is to maybe read the news and maybe to listen to this episode, it's still probably important to remember that air travel still remains overwhelmingly safe and, frankly, probably still much safer than getting in a car.

What about you, Kate? Like, I'm just sort of curious, you've been covering these issues for weeks now. Have your personal feelings about air travel changed? Like, are you more nervous? Yeah, I am.

What about you, Kate? Like, I'm just sort of curious, you've been covering these issues for weeks now. Have your personal feelings about air travel changed? Like, are you more nervous? Yeah, I am.

It basically sounds like you're saying we should not be calling fire yet. No, I'm not. I'm not. Let's see how this plays out.

It basically sounds like you're saying we should not be calling fire yet. No, I'm not. I'm not. Let's see how this plays out.

Kate, thank you so much. Thank you. We'll be right back. Here's what else you need to know today. Three former police officers were acquitted of charges including second-degree murder in the beating death of Tyree Nichols back in 2023. The killing sparked nationwide outrage and was held up as an example of police brutality against a Black man.

Kate, thank you so much. Thank you. We'll be right back. Here's what else you need to know today. Three former police officers were acquitted of charges including second-degree murder in the beating death of Tyree Nichols back in 2023. The killing sparked nationwide outrage and was held up as an example of police brutality against a Black man.

Nichols, a FedEx employee, was pulled over by the officers who used pepper spray and a stun gun on him before chasing him down and beating him after he broke free and started running to his mother's house.