Burbank airport collision risk is a concern

In unusual remarks, national safety board chair says 'people are raising red flags.'

- By Jack Dolan

The chair of the National Safety Transportation Board called out Hollywood Burbank Airport as having a concerning risk of a midair collision and urged federal regulators to take action.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, speaking at a board meeting in Washington, said commercial airlines had warned of the risk of aircraft colliding at Burbank Airport. The airport is a busy Class C, or mediumsized, airport with short runways and a tight airspace. It is among "hotspots" with a high volume of mixed helicopter and airplane traffic, according to the FAA.

"Burbank is one where commercial airlines have called me to say the next midair is going to be at Burbank, and nobody at [the Federal Aviation Administration] is paying attention to us," Homendy said.

She added that "whether it is involving helicopters or not, people are raising red flags, and why aren't people listening? The FAA has to ensure safety. That is their job."

Homendy spoke just before the first anniversary of a catastrophic crash that claimed 67 lives outside Washington, D.C. The agency revealed findings into the crash of an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.

As Homendy laid out what she called a series of institutional failures by the FAA before the January 2025 crash, she pointed to concerns about the mixing of commercial airplane and helicopter traffic, noting that there are extensive data pointing to the danger of such a midair collision.

A representative at Hollywood Burbank Airport referred all questions and comments to the FAA.

An FAA spokesperson responded that the agency, which is responsible for the safety of the airspace, "acted immediately to improve safety" following last year's collision outside Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.