Washington, D.C.
Following the deadly crash of a regional jet in Lexington, Ky., the Federal Aviation Administration said this week it will increase staffing in many small-airport control towers. Last week’s crash of Comair Flight 5191, which killed 49 of the 50 people onboard, occurred when the pilot mistakenly tried to take off from a runway that was too short to allow the plane to become airborne. The lone controller in the Lexington tower at the time had directed the plane to the correct runway but then was distracted by other duties and didn’t spot the pilot’s error. The FAA had previously urged airports to reduce control-tower personnel, but the agency now says it will add staff at Lexington and other regional airports, which often have no controllers on duty.
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