Democrats Probe The FAA?
Airline safety is once again making headlines—and for good reason.
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) is calling out the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a string of emergency airplane evacuations raised serious questions about outdated safety standards. In a letter sent Tuesday, Duckworth urged the agency to reevaluate its long-standing rule that all passengers must be able to evacuate within 90 seconds—an assumption she believes is dangerously unrealistic.
“Thankfully, highly trained flight crews were able to get everyone out with only minor injuries,” Duckworth noted. “But it’s time to face reality—those FAA assumptions don’t match what really happens when panic sets in.”
Duckworth pointed to three recent incidents—already acknowledged by the FAA—where passengers evacuated planes under potentially life-threatening conditions. None resulted in fatalities, but the Illinois Democrat says they expose flaws in how federal regulators prepare for emergencies.
One disturbing trend? Passengers refusing to leave carry-on luggage behind, potentially endangering others. That common behavior directly contradicts FAA guidelines and adds critical delays during evacuation efforts.
The FAA, for its part, responded with a familiar message: “Safety is our top priority. If you must evacuate, leave your bags and follow the crew’s instructions.”
Duckworth isn’t satisfied. She’s demanding full transparency: How long did each evacuation actually take? How many travelers carried bags off the plane, and how did that impact others?
These concerns come amid rising anxiety about commercial air travel. Just last year, a deadly collision between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport left no survivors—an incident that shook the confidence of older travelers nationwide.
With millions of Americans 50 and older taking to the skies each year, many are now asking: Are we really prepared for an emergency at 30,000 feet?
As President Trump continues to push for greater accountability in federal agencies, aviation safety is becoming a growing concern—not just for travelers, but for lawmakers as well.
