Washington, DC – The following is the statement of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) regarding the incident that occurred Tuesday night at Washington Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC:

“This incident and other recent performance failures, including near miss incidents, are matters of serious concern. I am asking Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Petri and the Committee’s investigative staff to conduct a thorough review of this and other recent mishaps.

“Unfortunately the Administration’s call for increased staffing at Reagan National, when there are no flights during the early morning hours, is a typical bureaucratic response.

“Increasing staff when there are no flights also violates FAA’s own management plan of staffing to air traffic.

“In difficult financial times for the nation, it is critical that we utilize our limited resources in the most responsible fashion without compromising safety.”

Mica pledged that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee would review the matter. He has also directed Committee staff to gather information regarding the Reagan National Airport incident and other missteps in the nation’s vital air traffic control system.

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