The administration of US President Donald Trump has begun laying off several hundred employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), just weeks after the fatal crash on January 29 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The probationary workers were notified via email that they had been fired, said David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, the AP reports.
The employees affected by this decision are personnel engaged in maintaining radar systems and navigation aids for the FAA, an air traffic controller told the Journalists Association.
Spero said the messages started coming in after 7 a.m. Friday.
More workers could be notified over the long weekend or be banned from FAA buildings on Tuesday, he added.
The layoffs hit the FAA at a time when it is facing a shortage of air traffic controllers.
Federal officials have warned for years about an overburdened and understaffed air traffic control system, especially after a series of close encounters between planes at American airports.
Among the reasons cited for the staff shortage are uncompetitive pay conditions, long working hours, intensive training and mandatory retirements.
An American Airlines plane with 64 passengers and crew members was flying from Kansas to Washington when it collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter, which was carrying three people.
A few days before the crash, President Donald Trump fired all members of the Aviation Safety Advisory Board.
This committee is responsible for examining safety issues related to airlines and airports.
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