Burbank Airport Faces Safety Concerns as Airlines Speak Up

Hollywood Burbank Airport, located in the San Fernando Valley, has come under scrutiny after commercial airlines raised concerns about the potential for a catastrophic mid-air collision. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was warned by various airlines during a hearing on January 27, 2026, regarding a deadly crash that occurred near Washington, D. C. , where 67 people lost their lives when an American Airlines jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River.

During the hearing, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy expressed the dire predictions made by commercial airlines about Burbank Airport. She noted that the airlines had reached out to her directly, bypassing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to raise concerns about the congested airspace shared by Burbank and nearby Van Nuys Airport, which is only nine miles away. Van Nuys Airport caters to private jets, corporate aircraft, and helicopters, which creates overlapping paths with Burbank’s commercial jets.

According to the Aviation Safety Reporting System, there have been six near mid-air collisions reported at Burbank since January 1, 2021. These incidents, combined with the lessons learned from the D. C. crash, have prompted Homendy to call for action from the FAA. In a report by ABC7 Los Angeles, Homendy’s remarks highlight a pattern of ignored red flags and emphasize the FAA’s responsibility to ensure safety.

The core issue lies in the close proximity of Hollywood Burbank and Van Nuys airports, both of which serve different types of aircraft. Burbank handles commercial passenger jets for major airlines like Southwest and American, while Van Nuys caters to general aviation, including private jets and helicopters. This tight proximity has resulted in overlapping paths and increased collision risks, as noted by Reuters in October 2025.

In a 2023 incident, a Mesa Airlines plane nearly landed on the same runway where a SkyWest flight was departing, coming within 1,680 feet of each other, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times. These close calls highlight the delicate balance that air traffic controllers must maintain amidst a surge in air traffic.

In response to Homendy’s criticisms, the FAA has implemented post-D. C. reforms, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in February 2025 to identify high-risk zones. The agency also conducted a trial in 2025, lowering Van Nuys Airport’s traffic pattern by 200 feet, resulting in a reduction of Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) alerts for Burbank arrivals. This change was made permanent on January 5, 2026, as reported by KTLA.

The FAA stated that the preliminary data showed a decrease in TCAS alerts for Burbank arrivals, highlighting their proactive approach to mitigating risks nationwide. However, Homendy dismissed these efforts as inadequate, citing the D. C.