NTSB Chair Warns Hollywood Burbank Airport Faces Serious Midair Collision Risk

Air transportation safety officials are raising alarms about potential dangers at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) in the Los Angeles area.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy recently voiced strong concerns. She warned that the airport faces a high midair collision risk if safety issues are not addressed.

Homendy made her remarks during an NTSB hearing last week. The meeting focused on a fatal collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Direct Warnings from Airlines

Chair Homendy stated that commercial airlines have contacted her directly. They expressed alarm about the Hollywood Burbank Airport safety environment.

“Burbank is one where commercial airlines have called me to say the next midair [collision] is going to be at Burbank,” Homendy said. She added that airlines feel the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is not paying attention to their concerns.

Data from the Aviation Safety Reporting System supports these fears. Since January 2021, six near midair collision incidents have been reported at Burbank.

This airport handles a complex mix of traffic. It includes commercial jets, general aviation, and frequent helicopter operations.

The DCA Collision Context

The NTSB hearing was part of the investigation into the January 29, 2025, collision. This accident involved an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.

The midair crash over the Potomac River killed 67 people aboard both aircraft. The NTSB connected the crash to systemic failures. These failures included the dangerous mixing of commercial and helicopter traffic.

Homendy’s comments highlight a broader commercial aviation safety crisis in the U.S. airspace.

Airspace Congestion and Regulatory Response

Concerns about Burbank Airport air traffic are tied to its proximity to Van Nuys Airport (VNY). The two Los Angeles area airports are less than 10 miles apart.

They share closely spaced arrival and departure paths. This creates a dense and complex Van Nuys Airport airspace corridor.

The FAA responded to the heightened scrutiny. They stated that safety is their top priority.

• The agency began using innovative AI tools in February 2025. These tools identify high-traffic “hotspots” with mixed operations.
• Based on this analysis, the FAA temporarily lowered the Van Nuys traffic pattern by 200 feet in 2025.
• This change was meant to reduce conflicts with aircraft landing at Burbank.
• Preliminary data showed a reduction in Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) alerts.
• The FAA permanently lowered the Van Nuys traffic pattern effective January 5, 2026.

Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) acknowledged the warnings. They pointed to the FAA as having FAA safety jurisdiction over aircraft in flight. The airport stated that safety for passengers and crews in the airspace is the FAA’s job.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues to press for action. They warn that ignoring known congestion risks could have fatal results.

Key Details

The NTSB's warning centers on the risk posed by the high volume of mixed air traffic in the Southern California region. This includes commercial, general aviation, and helicopter flights.

Key takeaways include:

• NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy publicly warned that commercial airlines fear a midair collision at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR).
• The warning came during a hearing on the January 29, 2025, American Airlines Black Hawk collision near DCA, which killed 67 people.
• The FAA permanently lowered the Van Nuys Airport (VNY) traffic pattern by 200 feet on January 5, 2026, to mitigate conflicts with BUR arrivals.
• Six near midair collision incidents have been reported at Burbank Airport since the start of 2021.

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