Some express shaken confidence in air travel following crashes, FAA layoffs

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The Trump administration is firing hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees across the country less than a month after the crash American Airlines Flight 5342 left 67 people dead and following several other plane crashes that injured dozens more.

The developments in recent months are shaking confidence in air travel, a sentiment echoed by some Wichitans who spoke with 12 News on Monday. On the heels of the Trump administration’s announcement concerning the FAA cuts, some travelers are facing difficulties.

In Wichita, Hugh Tessendorf said his wife flew out of the Air Capital to a connecting flight in Atlanta on her way to see family in Florida. Tessendorf said his wife’s flight was delayed because of the FAA layoffs.

“She says they were boarding and they just stopped boarding and come to find out that plane had been delayed because the tower went down in Jacksonville, Florida, I guess and so she said, ‘They don’t have anyone to get us in,’” Tessendorf said.

After recent crashes, Tessendorf said now is not the time to be laying off air traffic personnel. It’s a situation he described as “frustrating.”

Others say something needs to change before more people get hurt.

“I do think there needs to be some reform of the air traffic control because it makes no sense given how many crashes we’ve had,” one Wichita traveler said.

12 News also spoke with a pilot on Monday who declined to go on camera, but did say that if staffing at an airport reaches insufficient levels, flights would be delayed and canceled as necessary. We also reached out to the Jacksonville airport. As of late Monday night, we’re waiting to hear back.