NATCA Head Defends Controllers After Trump Blames Fatal Midair on DEI Policies

Trump during a press conference on Thursday said that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring “could have been” responsible for the collision, which is believed to have killed all 67 people aboard the passenger jet and helicopter. But that’s news to NATCA president Nick Daniels.

“Any certified air traffic controller out there, it doesn’t matter their race, color, religion, you can know you’re in the best hands,” Daniels said in an interview with CBS Mornings.

Daniels later added, “I couldn’t tell you exactly what [Trump] was talking about because the quality of air traffic controllers that are out there are outstanding.”

When asked how he drew the conclusion that DEI programs may have caused the collision, Trump replied, “Because I have common sense.”

Of the tens of thousands of people who apply to become air traffic controllers each year, only a small percentage actually get certified. The FAA in 2023, for example, said that by August of that year it had received more than 12,000 applications. But only about 1,500 controllers were hired.

Applicants who meet the basic requirements to be a controller take an initial exam, and high scorers are admitted to an FAA academy in Oklahoma City. Graduates are placed at one of hundreds of FAA air traffic facilities nationwide, where they train to manage that specific airspace. Only after passing a final test are they certified.

“You could hire 50,000 people, but two to three years from now will be the first time that you ever see one of those controllers actually make it to being able to talk to aircraft on their own,” Daniels said.

A two-year pause in on-the-job training at FAA facilities due to the COVID pandemic has created a shortage of air traffic controllers. By Daniels’ estimate, there are about 10,800 certified controllers, but there should be more than 14,000. According to CBS, two controllers were handling the job of four people on the night of the fatal collision, which Daniels said is not unusual.

“It is not uncommon for us to routinely combine positions, decombine positions,” Daniels said. “There is usually someone in a supervisory position looking at the overall workload and complexity in order to make those determinations on what positions we need open, and when we need them open.”

If not enough controllers are available, the tower will begin reducing the number of aircraft flowing through the airspace, Daniels explained.

“It would be premature to speculate on the root cause of this accident,” Daniels said in a message to NATCA members. “We serve quietly, but events like this remind us of the weight we bear. This job is more than a profession; it’s a responsibility we hold deeply, and when tragedy strikes, it stays with us.”

The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP), which represents more than 5,000 members, told FLYING that Trump’s framing is not only misleading but harmful.

“It is essential to clarify that diversity initiatives are not the cause of aviation incidents; safety is grounded in rigorous training, standardized procedures, and continuous evaluation of personnel,” said Vanessa Blacknall-Jamison, executive director of OBAP. “We reject any notion that diverse perspectives compromise excellence or safety, and encourage everyone to focus on facts and reject divisive rhetoric that stokes fear.”

Blacknall-Jamison said the president’s claims could discourage talented people of diverse backgrounds from entering a sector that is disproportionately white and male. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, Black people made up just 2.6 percent of employed flight engineers and pilots in 2022; 9.7 percent were Hispanic or Latino, 1.6 percent Asian, and 9.2 percent women.

“Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Blacknall-Jamison said. “We urge all stakeholders to focus on solutions that promote safety and inclusivity rather than perpetuating harmful narratives.”

Trump’s comments follow a presidential memorandum rolling back DEI hiring policies at the FAA. On Thursday, he ordered the FAA and Department of Transportation to review all hiring decisions and changes to safety protocols in the past four years.

Asked if he plans to fire “diversity hires” in the federal government, Trump responded, “I would say the answer is yes…They'd be very good for certain jobs, but not people that should be doing this particular job.”

Trump also claimed that people with “severe intellectual” disabilities can be hired as air traffic controllers, implying they are unqualified. An FAA initiative placing special emphasis on hiring people with “severe intellectual disability” existed for over a decade until it was recently removed from the agency’s webpage. But according to Kelly Buckland, the disability policy adviser to former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the FAA would only hire qualified people with disabilities under that policy, “with the emphasis on qualified.”

The FAA also implemented a program during Trump’s first term that aimed to train people with disabilities for careers in air traffic. According to the agency, candidates receive the “same rigorous consideration in terms of aptitude, medical, and security qualifications” as people applying for standard air traffic control jobs.

Other aviation groups joined NATCA in urging patience with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation before speculating about the cause of the collision.

“When we have a situation like this, we need to make sure we’re supporting the NTSB’s work to conduct a thorough investigation and not rush to conclusions,” said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, in an appearance on MSNBC.

Captain Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), said in a statement: “A lot of details and speculation will come out in response to this tragedy, but we must remember to let the investigation run its course.”

Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, a union representing FAA and Department of Defense employees, added: “Before anyone speculates on the cause of the crash, the union asks that everyone allow first responders to continue their recovery mission and federal investigators to do their critical jobs.”

The NTSB on Thursday said it expects to release a preliminary report on the cause of the collision within 30 days. A final report could take years to complete.

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