AUSTIN, Texas — Nearly one month after a close call involving a fighter jet and private jet at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, a Texas lawmaker is calling for more resources to be poured into the airport.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Monday to look into the multiple incidents concerning the airport.
"Multiple near-miss incidents at our airport are totally unacceptable," Doggett said in a statement. "We need action before lives are lost in a costly disaster."
The congressman also called on the FAA to bring in more air traffic controllers and resources to match the airport's growth and traffic levels.
"Often they're in a situation where they have to call in the trainees to supplement the air traffic controllers. So there's several specifics I've asked of the FAA in order to try to work cooperatively on this," Doggett said.
There have been three incidents this year alone at Austin's airport. The most recent one involving an F-18 and a Cessna Citation happened in September. According to the FAA, the Cessna needed to take "evasive action" as the F-18 flew too close to it. The F-19 then flew near another small plane, a Piper PA-28, near a different runway.
In June, there was also a close call involving an Allegiant flight from Cincinnati that was preparing to land in Austin when it was forced to climb "due to a small aircraft in proximity."
"I wanted to cancel my flight because I was a little bit scared, but, you know, for business, I have to fly. It's for my job," said Milica Bolta, an Austin traveler from Croatia.
In February, a FedEx cargo plane trying to land at the Austin airport had to reverse its course after a Southwest Airlines plane was cleared to take off from the same runway. The FedEx flight was expected to land as the Southwest flight was given the go-ahead.
In Doggett's letter, he said Austin has just 35 fully certified controllers, which he said is about 40% below the target staffing level set by the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
Earlier this year, the FAA created an independent review team to examine ways to enhance safety. The team is expected to deliver recommendations by the end of October.