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

Transportation officials say Southern California airport needs more FAA attention to prevent next disaster

Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:39pm

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The National Transportation Safety Board has warned that the Hollywood Burbank Airport in Southern California could be the site of the next mid-air collision, with commercial airlines expressing concerns to the agency about the high volume of airplane and helicopter traffic in the airspace around the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration has taken some steps to improve safety, but the NTSB chair says more needs to be done to address the risks at Burbank and the nearby Van Nuys Airport.

Why it matters

Mid-air collisions are among the most catastrophic types of aviation accidents, and the NTSB's warning about Burbank Airport highlights the ongoing challenges in managing the complex airspace around busy regional airports that serve as hubs for both commercial and general aviation traffic. Any potential for a major crash at Burbank would have severe consequences for the surrounding communities and the broader air travel system.

The details

The NTSB chair, Jennifer Homendy, said commercial airlines have contacted her directly to express concerns that the "next mid-air is going to be at Burbank." In response, the FAA has taken some steps, including lowering the traffic pattern at the nearby Van Nuys Airport by 200 feet last year. However, the NTSB believes more needs to be done to address the risks at both Burbank and Van Nuys, which are located just 8 miles apart and see a high volume of both airplane and helicopter traffic.

  • In 2025, there was a deadly mid-air crash between an airline and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C. that killed 67 people.
  • On January 6, 2026, the FAA made permanent the changes it implemented last year to lower the Van Nuys traffic pattern by 200 feet.
  • In 2024, about 4.6% of all flights from Sacramento International Airport were to Hollywood Burbank Airport, making it the 7th busiest destination for flyers out of Sacramento.
  • Since January 1, 2021, there have been six near mid-air collisions at Burbank Airport according to federal data.

The players

Jennifer Homendy

The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board.

Hollywood Burbank Airport

An airport in Southern California that sees hundreds of flights annually from the Sacramento area and has been flagged as concerning by airlines due to the high volume of airplane and helicopter traffic in the airspace.

Van Nuys Airport

An airport located about 8 miles from Hollywood Burbank Airport that also sees a high volume of airplane and helicopter traffic.

Federal Aviation Administration

The government agency responsible for regulating and overseeing air travel safety, which has taken some steps to improve safety around the Burbank and Van Nuys airports but the NTSB believes more needs to be done.

Southwest Airlines

The predominant carrier between Sacramento International Airport and Hollywood Burbank Airport, making up over 95% of all flights between the two airports.

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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 [the Federal Aviation Administration] is paying attention to us.”

— Jennifer Homendy, Chair, National Transportation Safety Board

“Southwest appreciates the recent mitigations to the Burbank-Van Nuys airspace. We continue to engage with the agency to identify and implement additional enhancements. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”

— Southwest Airlines spokesperson

What’s next

The FAA said it will continue to monitor the airspace around Burbank and Van Nuys Airports and work with airlines to identify and implement additional safety enhancements.

The takeaway

This warning from the NTSB highlights the ongoing challenges in managing the complex airspace around busy regional airports that serve as hubs for both commercial and general aviation traffic. It underscores the need for the FAA to remain vigilant and work closely with airlines and other stakeholders to proactively address any potential risks of mid-air collisions, especially at airports like Burbank that have been flagged as areas of concern.