NTSB Warns of Potential Mid-Air Crash Risks at Burbank Airport

Airlines raise concerns about crowded airspace around busy Burbank and Van Nuys airports

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:55am

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The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has expressed concerns about the possibility of a deadly mid-air collision occurring at Hollywood Burbank Airport. According to the NTSB chair, commercial airlines have warned that Burbank could be the site of the next such crash, but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not been responsive to these safety concerns.

Why it matters

The Burbank and Van Nuys airports handle a high volume of both airplane and helicopter traffic in a relatively small airspace, raising the risk of a catastrophic mid-air collision. The NTSB is pushing the FAA to take immediate action to improve safety and prevent such a tragedy from happening.

The details

The NTSB chair, Jennifer Homendy, said that commercial airlines have contacted her directly to warn that Burbank Airport could be the site of the next deadly mid-air crash. Homendy criticized the FAA for not listening to these warnings and failing to ensure the safety of the airspace around Burbank and Van Nuys. According to the Aviation Safety Reporting System, there have been six near mid-air collisions at Burbank Airport since January 2021.

  • On Tuesday, the NTSB held a hearing as part of its investigation into a deadly mid-air crash near Washington, D.C. in 2025 that left 67 people dead.
  • In February 2025, the FAA began using AI tools to identify high-risk areas with mixed helicopter and airplane traffic, including around Van Nuys and Burbank airports.
  • In 2025, the FAA lowered the Van Nuys traffic pattern by 200 feet during an evaluation to reduce conflicts with aircraft landing at Burbank, which preliminary data indicated reduced TCAS alerts.
  • The FAA permanently lowered the Van Nuys traffic pattern effective January 5, 2026.

The players

Jennifer Homendy

The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The government agency responsible for ensuring the safety of the national airspace system.

Hollywood Burbank Airport

A busy airport located in Burbank, California that handles both airplane and helicopter traffic.

Van Nuys Airport

Another busy airport located near Burbank that also handles a mix of airplane and helicopter traffic.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair

“The FAA has to ensure safety. That is their job.”

— Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair

What’s next

The FAA says it will continue to monitor the situation at Burbank and Van Nuys airports and implement additional safety measures if needed.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of managing the complex and crowded airspace around busy regional airports, and the need for the FAA to proactively address safety concerns raised by airlines and aviation authorities like the NTSB.