ABC News released audio of pilots over Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport making animal noises on an air traffic control frequency for essential communication only, leading to a scolding and an official statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Unidentified pilots heard meowing over an air traffic control frequency Sunday,” explained “Good Morning America” during a segment that aired Wednesday. “Another person on the frequency quickly scolds them.”
“You guys need to be professional pilots,” said air traffic control at DCA, the site of a midair collision last year that killed 67 people.
While airports can be a zoo, nobody expects these dedicated frequencies to resemble them. Two pilots appeared determined to continue their shtick on Sunday, however, and responded to the scolding by barking — and a rapid-fire “Meow, meow, meow, meow.”
“This is why you still fly an RJ,” an air traffic controller fired back at the regional jet pilots.
ABC News obtained the audio from a free iPhone app named ATC – Live Air Traffic Radio, which features more than 600 audio feeds and allows users to listen to pilots and observe their flight paths as air traffic controllers guide them during takeoffs and landings.
The audio follows a slew of other incidents over the past year, including near midair collisions between commercial jets and U.S. military planes.
The FAA on Wednesday told ABC News in a statement that federal regulations prohibit pilots from “engaging in non-essential conversations when they’re below 10,000 feet,” adding Sunday’s audio came from a third-party source but will be investigated once it’s verified.
The federal agency noted it investigates every incident involving potential pilot violations.
Air traffic controllers have had a difficult time under President Donald Trump, whose administration fired hundreds of FAA staffers, resulting in significant staffing shortages and fatigue. Last year’s government shutdown, meanwhile, resulted in nationwide flight delays.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Friday that the FAA will open new applications April 17 for air traffic controller jobs. The initiative is aimed at young people without college degrees who are “active in gaming,” according to the FAA statement.
“Feedback from controller exit interviews reinforces this, with several controllers pointing to gaming as an influence on their ability to think quickly, stay focused, and manage complexity,” said the agency, adding that 65% of Americans “regularly play video games.”
