NTSB Vice Chair Removed Amid Ongoing Aviation Investigations

The White House confirmed Tuesday that Alvin Brown, vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), has been unexpectedly removed from his position, an uncommon move during a period of intense investigative activity at the agency.

Brown, who was sworn in in April 2024 for a term expected to run through 2026, has not publicly commented on the dismissal. The White House provided no explanation for the decision. Brown’s profile and biography were removed from the NTSB’s website by Tuesday evening, which now lists only four board members.

The NTSB is currently investigating nearly 1,250 active domestic cases and assisting with more than 160 foreign investigations, according to recent testimony by NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy. High-profile probes include the January 2025 midair collision over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people, the fatal medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia, and the March 2024 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and FAA investigator, said the abrupt nature of Brown’s removal is unusual. “This wasn’t a routine transition at the end of a term—this was direct and sudden from the administration,” he said.

Brown was previously the mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, and served as a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Transportation before joining the NTSB. He was the only Black member of the board.

NTSB board members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate to serve five-year terms. The vice chair role is designated for three years.

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