A Message From NATCA President Nick Daniels: Tragedy at Washington National Airport

NATCA Family,

NATCA mourns the tragic loss of life as a result of the accident that occurred at Washington National (DCA) airport last night between a regional jet and a helicopter. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those affected by this event, and we offer our condolences to our brothers and sisters in ALPA and AFA and all those involved in this tragedy.

I, along with other leaders of NATCA, have been in contact with the members working at DCA to offer assistance and provide the necessary resources at this time.

We cannot comment on the specifics, and it would be premature to speculate on the root cause of this accident. We will wait for the National Transportation Safety Board to complete its work and use that information to help guide decisions and changes to enhance and improve aviation safety.

America’s highly trained and skilled air traffic controllers all do amazing work every day keeping the nation’s passengers and cargo moving safely and efficiently to their destinations. 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.

Please stay focused and stay strong as these events unfold.

Thank you all again for the work you do. 

In Solidarity,

Nick Daniels
NATCA President