Control-tower staffing reviewed
The week's news at a glance.
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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The backlash against ChatGPT's Studio Ghibli filter
The Explainer The studio's charming style has become part of a nebulous social media trend
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Why are student loan borrowers falling behind on payments?
Today's Big Question Delinquencies surge as the Trump administration upends the program
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Not there yet: The frustrations of the pocket AI
Feature Apple rushes to roll out its ‘Apple Intelligence’ features but fails to deliver on promises
By The Week US Published