NTSB Warns Burbank Airport Could Face Risk of Mid-Air Collision

The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board has warned that Hollywood Burbank Airport could be the site of the next deadly mid-air collision if safety concerns raised by commercial airlines are not addressed, placing renewed pressure on the Federal Aviation Administration to act.

Speaking at a congressional hearing on Tuesday Jan. 27, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said multiple airlines have directly contacted her to express alarm about congestion and conflict risks in the airspace surrounding Hollywood Burbank Airport. She said those warnings have not been taken seriously enough by the FAA.

“I keep hearing about other areas in the airspace where they are concerned. Burbank is one where commercial airlines have called me to say the next mid-air is going to be at Burbank, and nobody at FAA is paying attention to us,” Homendy said. “Whether it involves helicopters or not, people are raising red flags, and why aren’t people listening? The FAA has to ensure safety. That is their job.”

The remarks came during a hearing connected to the investigation into last year’s fatal mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people and involved a US Army helicopter and an American Airlines aircraft. That accident has intensified scrutiny of mixed-use airspace where commercial, military, general aviation, and helicopter traffic operate in close proximity.

At the center of the concern in Southern California is the dense and complex airspace shared by Hollywood Burbank Airport and nearby Van Nuys Airport. Both airports are among the busiest in the region, with heavy volumes of airline, business aviation, training, and helicopter operations confined to a relatively small geographic area.

According to data from the Aviation Safety Reporting System, six near mid-air collision incidents have been reported at Burbank Airport since January 1, 2021. The NTSB has cited those reports as evidence that the risk is not theoretical and has urged the FAA to implement further mitigations.

In response to Homendy’s comments, the FAA said it has already taken steps to improve safety around Burbank and Van Nuys. The agency said it began using artificial intelligence tools in early 2025 to identify airspace hotspots with high levels of mixed traffic and to introduce targeted risk-reduction measures.

The FAA said one of its primary focus areas was the Van Nuys–Burbank corridor. Following an evaluation in 2025, the agency lowered the Van Nuys traffic pattern by 200 feet to reduce conflicts with aircraft arriving at Burbank. Preliminary data showed a reduction in Traffic Collision Avoidance System alerts for Burbank arrivals, leading the FAA to permanently implement the change on January 5, 2026.

A spokesperson for Hollywood Burbank Airport did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Passengers interviewed at the airport expressed mixed reactions, with some saying they had never felt unsafe, while others voiced concern about growing traffic levels and welcomed further safety measures if they reduce risk.

The NTSB has indicated it will continue pressing the FAA to take airline warnings seriously, warning that failure to address known congestion risks could have fatal consequences.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, abc7.com