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Leaders in the U.S. aviation industry are urging Congress to provide emergency funding for the air traffic control system, which is currently under strain. A letter sent on Wednesday by major airlines, pilot and flight attendant unions, air traffic controllers, and the American travel industry's top lobbying group calls for swift action following two significant accidents involving U.S. airlines.
"We are united in our grief over recent aviation accidents and our commitment to making sure accidents like these never happen again," stated the letter addressed to congressional leaders.
The call for action comes after a midair collision on January 29 between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in 67 fatalities. This was the most severe crash involving a U.S. airline in nearly 16 years. More recently, a Delta Air Lines regional jet crashed upon landing in Toronto, injuring 21 people; however, all passengers and crew survived.
