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Editor: James T. Crouse
Profession: Aviation Accident Attorney

Category: Aviation Safety

A departing Alaska Boeing 737 with 117 passengers on board caused damage to another parked Alaska Boeing 737 while backing away from the gate. The winglet - that small vertical fin at the outer tip of the wings - "made contact" with the other jet. No one was injured and all passengers were taken off the Washington-bound plane and rebooked on other flights. Repairs to the planes will take a couple of days and, of course, the FAA will investigate.

What on earth is going on with the safety - or should Frieda say the "un-safety" - of our airports? Perhaps this was just a minor mishap, but mishaps - from minor to near disaster - are happening way to often and as asked in an earlier article on this site - what is it going to have to happen before this matter is taken seriously?

After every incident it is stated " the FAA will investigate". This they need to do - after the investigation, then what? The NTSB has called for runway safety to be addressed for years with an unsatisfactory response from the FAA.

This is the FAA's definition of their agency:

The FAA is primarily responsible for the advancement, safety and regulation of civil aviation, as well as overseeing the development of the air traffic control system and commercial space travel

.

With the air traffic control system in this country so far behind and our runways such a hazard to air travelers' safety, Frieda's not sure they are fulfilling responsibility.