Ryan Knutson

But in recent years, the FAA has been under pressure. It's faced criticism for its oversight of Boeing. It's seen a lot of turnover in its top leadership. And it's struggled to fully staff air traffic control operations, or ATC, around the country. The FAA has acknowledged the staffing shortages and has worked for years to address it.

The agency also says it slows down traffic to maintain safety when there aren't enough controllers.

The agency also says it slows down traffic to maintain safety when there aren't enough controllers.

The agency also says it slows down traffic to maintain safety when there aren't enough controllers.

At the same time the FAA has been struggling to staff air traffic control, there's been an uptick in close calls.

At the same time the FAA has been struggling to staff air traffic control, there's been an uptick in close calls.

At the same time the FAA has been struggling to staff air traffic control, there's been an uptick in close calls.

In 2023, a study commissioned by the FAA found mounting risks to safety and efficiency in U.S. air traffic. At the time, the agency said it had taken several actions to end serious close calls. Near misses have taken place all over the country, including in D.C., Last spring, a pilot flying into Washington Reagan reported coming dangerously close to a military helicopter when coming in to land.

In 2023, a study commissioned by the FAA found mounting risks to safety and efficiency in U.S. air traffic. At the time, the agency said it had taken several actions to end serious close calls. Near misses have taken place all over the country, including in D.C., Last spring, a pilot flying into Washington Reagan reported coming dangerously close to a military helicopter when coming in to land.

In 2023, a study commissioned by the FAA found mounting risks to safety and efficiency in U.S. air traffic. At the time, the agency said it had taken several actions to end serious close calls. Near misses have taken place all over the country, including in D.C., Last spring, a pilot flying into Washington Reagan reported coming dangerously close to a military helicopter when coming in to land.

In a report of that incident, the pilot wrote that there needed to be better separation between plane and helicopter traffic. And then, just a day before Wednesday's crash, a jet that was minutes away from landing aborted to avoid a helicopter in its way.

In a report of that incident, the pilot wrote that there needed to be better separation between plane and helicopter traffic. And then, just a day before Wednesday's crash, a jet that was minutes away from landing aborted to avoid a helicopter in its way.

In a report of that incident, the pilot wrote that there needed to be better separation between plane and helicopter traffic. And then, just a day before Wednesday's crash, a jet that was minutes away from landing aborted to avoid a helicopter in its way.

And then, on Wednesday, it did. What we know about the cause of the crash? After the break. 67 people are presumed dead from Wednesday's crash. Among the dead is a group of young figure skaters, their coaches and their family members. They were returning from a training camp for up-and-coming athletes in Wichita, Kansas.

And then, on Wednesday, it did. What we know about the cause of the crash? After the break. 67 people are presumed dead from Wednesday's crash. Among the dead is a group of young figure skaters, their coaches and their family members. They were returning from a training camp for up-and-coming athletes in Wichita, Kansas.

And then, on Wednesday, it did. What we know about the cause of the crash? After the break. 67 people are presumed dead from Wednesday's crash. Among the dead is a group of young figure skaters, their coaches and their family members. They were returning from a training camp for up-and-coming athletes in Wichita, Kansas.

At a press conference outside Boston, where a number of the skaters were based, skating legend Nancy Kerrigan fought through tears to honor the people who died.

At a press conference outside Boston, where a number of the skaters were based, skating legend Nancy Kerrigan fought through tears to honor the people who died.

At a press conference outside Boston, where a number of the skaters were based, skating legend Nancy Kerrigan fought through tears to honor the people who died.

In Wichita, a memorial was set up at the airport.