A 2023 report determined that over 99% of American airports lacked critical air traffic control staffing. Aggressively recruiting qualified employees was a top priority for transportation officials under President Joe Biden, but policy reversals last week pumped the brakes on hirings.

After a tragic midair collision at Reagan National Airport, air traffic controller staffing and training have come under scrutiny. Here’s what it takes to enter this demanding career.

Amid increased concerns about aviation safety, here's how many air traffic controllers there are in the U.S., and how the hiring process works.

Air traffic control audio recorded the moments before and after an American Airlines regional passenger jet crashedwith a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in a midair collision over Washington on Wednesday night.

Hearing that just one air traffic controller was monitoring both planes and helicopters has left many to wonder how common such a situation is.

NBC News' Tom Costello reports on how the air traffic control staffing at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) was "allowed, but not ideal," under the FAA’s safety standards.

The FAA report revealed that a single controller was responsible for both managing helicopters in the airport's vicinity and directing arriving and departing planes