In late July, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a comprehensive three-day public hearing to examine the tragic mid-air collision over Washington, DC in January, which resulted in 67 fatalities. The investigation revealed two key findings: the disaster could have been averted under current safety regulations, and that air safety regulators have grown reluctant to enforce these rules, particularly when faced with industry pressures to increase flight numbers and reduce operational expenses. Rather than addressing these enforcement lapses, the Trump administration is pursuing policies that further weaken safety regulations.
