We begin with breaking news. Theres been a plane crash in the Central Asian country of kazha kstan. Details are still coming in, but its understood the aircraft was carrying around 100 passengers and crew. It went down near the city of almaty, en route to nur sultan. In the past few minutes, the official death count has risen to 9. This statement from the Kazakh Aviation Authority, published in the past hour, says at 07 22 flight no. 22100, of bek airline, in the direction almaty nur sultan lost altitude during take off and broke through a concrete fence. There was a collision with a two storey building. Rescue operations and the evacuation of passengers and crew began immediately. The plane was a fokker 100 video published on social media appears to show much of its fuselage intact as search and rescue operations continue. The Kazakh Aviation Authority has now suspended all flights of this type of aircraft until the circumstances of the accident are clarified. According to preliminary
Deputy administrator in the obama administration. He stressed the importance of faa innovation. The chair of the house transportation and Infrastructure Committee spoke in support of the nomination at an earlier hearing. Good morning, everyone. The u. S. Senate committee on commerce, science and transportation took him to order. This morning we are here to consider the nomination of Michael Whitaker to be the administrator of the federal aviation administration. I want to thank mr. Whitaker for his willingness to serve. Im also grateful that the house chairman sam graves is here and we will hear from you soon. Chairman gray along with my colleague Ranking Member larsen have worked hard on a bipartisan bill to pass a longterm faa reauthorization so we thank you for that. Im hopeful we will be able to do the same. In a bipartisan fashion. And finalize the bill into law before the end of 2023. This is a reminder that the aviation safety and the job of running the faa are not partisan. The
House chairman sam graves is hear and we will hear from you soon. Chairman graves along with my colleague Ranking Member larson have worked hard on a bipartisan bill to pass a longterm faa reauthorization, so we thank you for that and im hopeful that we will be able to do the same here in a bipartisan fashion and finalize the bill into law before the end of 2023. This is a reminder that the aviation safety and the job of running the faa are not partisan endeavors, they are ensuring strong leadership at the top of americas chief aviation regulator and this should be our common goal. Mr. Whitakers nomination has drafted broad support not only from across the aisle but across from the Aviation Community. Supported by the aviation workforce, pilots, attend answers and enjoys broad support in the private sector of aviation. The foundation of support will serve well because the faa administrator has a big job over 44,000 workers across multiple lines of business from airports to air Traffic
Sen. Cantwell each day they help keep americans moving safely. 25,000 u. S. Airline flights carrying 2. 5 million passengers across the country and around the world. Today, you will come before the committee with more than 30 years of diverse experience in aviation, including executive leadership in the private sector and three years serving as f. A. A. Deputy administrator. He led the f. A. A. s modernization of the National Air Space system known shorthand as nextgen, and i hope he will be able to illuminate today the progress that weve made, important milestones that weve achieved and what we need to do to get it finally implemented. Mr. Whitaker will bring a commitment to advancing aviation safety and appreciate his support by families who have lost loved ones and who have been very dedicated to improving aviation safety. But there are challenges that remain. Americas Aviation System is under stress, demonstrated by the number of near misses and close calls. We need to hear today a
Sen. Cantwell each day they help keep americans moving safely. 25,000 u. S. Airline flights carrying 2. 5 million passengers across the country and around the world. Today, you will come before the committee with more than 30 years of diverse experience in aviation, including executive leadership in the private sector and three years serving as f. A. A. Deputy administrator. He led the f. A. A. s modernization of the National Air Space system known shorthand as nextgen, and i hope he will be able to illuminate today the progress that weve made, important milestones that weve achieved and what we need to do to get it finally implemented. Mr. Whitaker will bring a commitment to advancing aviation safety and appreciate his support by families who have lost loved ones and who have been very dedicated to improving aviation safety. But there are challenges that remain. Americas Aviation System is under stress, demonstrated by the number of near misses and close calls. We need to hear today a