Alan Levin

Alan Levin has written about aviation safety, drones and regulation from Washington for more than two decades. Former Bloomberg News.

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

After decades of following @NTSB's investigations, it's still a shock to see how badly things can go wrong. The meeting on the DC #midair reveals a stunning number system failures: scores of previous incidents ignored, missed equipment failures & procedure violations.

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

Both CVRs were overwritten. NTSB has repeatedly called for cockpit voice recorders with longer time spans to help capture more of these kind of incidents.

[NTSB Newsroom @NTSB_Newsroom]

NTSB issues the preliminary report for its ongoing investigation of the Feb. 25 runway incursion incident involving a Flexjet Bombardier Challenger 350 and a Southwest Airlines B-737 at Chicago Midway Int’l Airport. Download the report PDF: https://t.co/B0y1sTNiS6

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

@NTSB_Newsroom Yet another CVR overwritten. One of the greatest investigative tools so often rendered useless.

[Jon Ostrower @jonostrower]

We are watching in realtime the systematic unraveling of decades aviation safety accident investigative precedent and process from the President of the United States.

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

Nothing like prejudging and politicizing a complicated crash investigation within the first 24 hours. By the president. Wow! Never saw anything like this in 25 years covering crash investigations.

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

@NTSB_Newsroom This accident (thkfully minor) has all the earmarks of a collision w/ a #drone. NTSB doesn't say that specifically, but what else might hit a plane at about 1,500 ft altitude? Paint marks make it clear it isn't a bird -- and a bigger object could have caused a crash.

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

@amtrak conductor on NE Regional Train 174 confirms that the brush fire in NJ above Newark is causing the halt in service. He suggests it could be a while, as Secaucus FD attempts to extinguish.

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

@josh_wingrove Dude needs to raise his seat. Can’t someone in the White House get him a proper bike fitting?

[David Shepardson @davidshepardson]

NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said on Jan. 7 that after the three pressurization warning lights came on @AlaskaAir had an ordered additional maintenance look at that light -- "That was not completed at the time of this event"

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

When it rains it pours. FWIW, I actually think the most significant issue is in last 2 paragraphs: improperly installed wiring bundles on #737Max caused uncommanded flight-control issues, FAA says. w/ @Schlangenstein
https://t.co/VRxdj0Q8dT

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

The recommendations for automated speed limiters out of this accident have potentially huge implications. Death toll on roads creeps into one of the biggest killers in the US (over 12k due to speed alone in 2021). EU already has a variety of speed limiters, including on trucks.

[NTSB Newsroom @NTSB_Newsroom]

NTSB calls for technology to reduce speeding in all new cars: https://t.co/G7LVUIVzLk

[Mary Schlangenstein @Schlangenstein]

SCOOP: The DOJ has joined international agencies investigating how thousands of engine parts backed by forged documents ended up in planes around the world -- https://t.co/hmFJYKVLdc via @business @schlangenstein, @kate__duffy, @cstrohm

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

Very sorry to hear this. It was always a pleasure working with you. We did some really good stories together. Best of luck!

[Laura Litvan @LauraLitvan]

After 24 years at Bloomberg, I was laid off today. Funny, I still have bylines for a couple days since I was assigned the early prep for stories on all possible outcomes for Jim Jordan’s try for the speakership.

https://t.co/SslkfPSKMp

[Julie Boatman 🛩🚁⛵️🏃🏻‍♀️🇺🇦 @julieinthesky]

Gutted. Stunned. Such a good human, leader, pilot, friend. We still had so much to do. My heart is with his family and many, many friends in the aviation family.

https://t.co/FCcai5tdkC

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

Wow. @NTSB_Newsroom has on occasion removed private parties from investigations, including some airlines and most notably Tesla. But it's unusual for a govt entity to be removed. (From my experience, this is kind of a last-straw action. They try to work this stuff out privately.)

[NTSB Newsroom @NTSB_Newsroom]

NTSB removes PA Public Utilities Commission as party to R.M. Palmer Factory gas explosion investigation: https://t.co/HUQ7a1Itrn

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

Brace yourself if #flying this weekend. @TSA is predicting a busy extended Labor Day travel period. For most of this year, passenger numbers have been steadily just above 2019, the previous record for most passengers.

[Jon Ostrower @jonostrower]

The extent to which Russia (and Belarus) have violated the norms of civil aviation are truly astonishing: Shooting down MH17, hijacking a Ryanair 737 to arrest a journalist, stealing hundreds of leased airliners, and (apparently) downing a business jet to kill a political rival.

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

Here's a fun #drone story. This company has @FAANews approval to fly large advertising banners in Miami Beach. They expect to start later this year.
https://t.co/92XD78K9rY

[Mary Schlangenstein @Schlangenstein]

A pending FAA proposal that could change regulatory standards for some charter operations would have a significant impact on SkyWest's charter plans, companies like JSX and some small cities. https://t.co/fx2ZuEa3CK via @business

[Alan Levin @AlanLevin1]

Very sorry to learn of the passing of Joan Lowy (@joan_lowy), the former Associated Press reporter who covered transportation. She was a fierce competitor who gave me chills every time I saw her byline. Best wishes to her husband Michael Christensen.