NTSB urges FAA to act on midair collision risk in crowded Hollywood Burbank airspace

Safety alarm at Hollywood Burbank forces renewed scrutiny of airspace controls

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board is pressing for urgent Federal Aviation Administration attention to Hollywood Burbank Airport’s crowded airspace after industry officials raise warnings about a heightened risk of midair collisions. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy singles out Burbank as an “airspace of concern,” saying commercial carriers have reported to her that “the next midair [collision] is going to be at Burbank, and nobody at the FAA is paying attention to us.” Her remarks follow broader investigations tied to a January 2025 collision in the Potomac River involving an American Airlines flight and a military helicopter, which are prompting fresh examination of procedures near smaller, busy airports.

The concern intensifies as Burbank experiences rising commercial traffic, with 862,825 passengers passing through the airport between January and November last year — a year‑over‑year increase of about 12.1% cited in recent reports. Industry officials and the NTSB tell reporters that current procedures and oversight may not sufficiently mitigate risks created by converging flight paths, mixed civil‑military operations and complex terrain. The board is urging the FAA to reassess separation standards, air traffic procedures and pilot guidance to reduce conflict potential in confined terminal airspace.

Regulators and carriers face immediate operational choices as the NTSB presses for action. Aviation stakeholders tell Reuters‑style reporting that potential responses include targeted airspace redesign, stricter arrival and departure routings, enhanced surveillance and more rigorous coordination with military traffic. The NTSB emphasizes that the FAA “has to ensure safety,” and the agency’s next steps are likely to shape carrier procedures, pilot training and airport operations at Burbank and similar metropolitan airports where growth is concentrating traffic into limited airspace.

Blue‑light sighting prompts FAA inquiry into American Airlines approach

An American Airlines flight approaching Charlotte Douglas International Airport reports seeing a mysterious blue light while preparing to land, and the carrier treats the sighting as a possible laser illumination event. The crew reports the incident “out of an abundance of caution,” the airline says, and the aircraft lands safely with no injuries as FAA investigators review cockpit voice, radar data and passenger reports.

Runway gear failure at Orlando underscores range of risks

Separately, video and witness accounts show a United Airlines Boeing 737‑900ER arriving in Orlando loses its nose landing gear on touchdown, temporarily shutting the runway and prompting emergency response. Officials say all passengers and crew are safe and investigations are under way, underscoring the broad spectrum of airborne and landing hazards regulators and carriers must address.