Feb. 24, 2019 // NATCA Mourns Loss of Three Crew Members Aboard Flight 5Y3591
Offers condolences to their families, friends & fellow union members
WASHINGTON – The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) issued the following statement regarding the tragic loss of the three crew members of the Atlas Air Flight 5Y3591, who died after the Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft that they were operating for Amazon Prime Air crashed into Trinity Bay east of Houston, Texas, on Saturday afternoon:
“Today, as the aviation community mourns this terrible tragedy, NATCA remembers the lives of the three Atlas Air crew members aboard Flight 5Y3591. Our Union’s thoughts are with their families and friends, and we offer our deepest condolences to them. NATCA also stands with the co-workers and fellow pilots of the deceased.
“NATCA also is saddened for our members at Houston Terminal Radar Approach Control (I90), especially for those air traffic controllers who worked this flight. We offer our full support to them. The safety of every flight is our highest priority. When an incident occurs, it deeply affects everyone in the aviation family, including the nearly 20,000 controllers and other aviation safety professionals represented by our Union.
“The deceased were fellow union brothers, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. They were members of the Airline Professionals Association, Teamsters Local Union No. 1224. NATCA stands today with all members of their union. We offer our support as they deal with the loss of their brothers.
“NATCA pledges its full cooperation in the investigation into this crash and has party status with the National Transportation Safety Board.”
MORE INFORMATION: Doug Church, Deputy Director of Public Affairs; 301-346-8245, [email protected].
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The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is a labor union and aviation safety organization in the United States that represents nearly 20,000 highly skilled air traffic controllers, engineers, and other aviation safety-related professionals. NATCA was certified in 1987 by the Federal Labor Relations Authority to be the exclusive bargaining representative for air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Today, NATCA is one of the strongest labor unions in the federal sector and represents a range of aviation safety professionals in 15 FAA bargaining units, 4 Department of Defense air traffic facilities, and 102 federal contract towers. These air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals make vital contributions to the U.S. economy and make modern life possible by coordinating the safe, orderly, and expeditious movement of nearly one billion aviation passengers and millions of tons of freight within the National Airspace System each year. NATCA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
