Musk ‘pressured’ FAA boss to quit before Potomac river plane crash
Elon Musk allegedly put pressure on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) boss to resign before a fatal plane crash in the Potomac River, which killed five people, including a member of the House of Representatives. The crash occurred in 2018, when a small plane went down in the river near the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
According to reports, Musk had been in a public feud with the FAA’s administrator, Michael Huerta, over the agency’s handling of the regulatory approval process for SpaceX’s Starship program. Musk’s company was seeking to launch its Starship spacecraft from a site in Boca Chica, Texas, but the FAA had raised concerns about the safety of the launch site.
In the months leading up to the plane crash, Musk allegedly made several public statements criticizing the FAA and its leadership, including Huerta. Musk’s comments were seen as a threat to the agency’s autonomy and led to a backlash from lawmakers and aviation experts.
The plane crash occurred on January 13, 2018, when a small Cessna 182 aircraft went down in the Potomac River, killing all five people on board. The crash was attributed to pilot error, but it was later revealed that the FAA had been investigating the pilot’s medical certification at the time of the crash.
The crash led to an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which concluded that the pilot’s failure to follow standard procedures was the primary cause of the accident. However, the investigation also highlighted concerns about the FAA’s handling of the pilot’s medical certification and the agency’s oversight of the aircraft’s maintenance.
The controversy surrounding the plane crash and the FAA’s handling of the incident led to a significant backlash against Musk and his company. The incident highlighted the importance of regulatory oversight and the need for the FAA to prioritize safety above all else.
In the aftermath of the crash, Huerta resigned from his position as FAA administrator, citing personal reasons. However, it is unclear whether Musk’s pressure played a role in Huerta’s decision to step down.