Jennifer Homendy

Jennifer Homendy is the Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). She is newsworthy due to the NTSB's investigation into a deadly midair collision near Washington D.C. that occurred a year ago, involving an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in 67 fatalities. The NTSB held a daylong hearing to highlight the factors that contributed to the collision. Investigators have expressed deep concern over years of ignored warnings regarding helicopter traffic dangers and the placement of a helicopter route within the approach path of Reagan National Airport's secondary runway. The NTSB's investigation and findings are significant as grieving families are pressing Congress for aviation safety reforms in response to the tragedy.