Long-standing concerns about military helicopters flying in crowded airspace and worries over short staffing among federal aviation workers have emerged as key factors in investigators’ inquiry into the fatal midair crash between an Army helicopter and a commercial airliner earlier this year.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues to grapple with a nationwide shortage of critical aviation personnel, a crisis that’s impacting air travel across the country. At major hubs like Newark International Airport, the shortage of air traffic controllers has already led to significant operational changes, including a cap on hourly flights, now limited to 56 per hour, down from 70.

Federal investigators continued their investigation on Sunday to determine the cause of a plane crash in Nassau County that claimed the life of a 56-year-old pilot.

President Donald Trump's remarks this week blaming diversity recruitment at the FAA as a potential reason for the plane crash that killed 67 people has drawn attention to the agency’s attempts to address its most pressing and long-standing staffing problem.

News4JAX aviation expert Ed Booth joined us on The Morning Show to address the unanswered questions and video that appears to show the midair collision.

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration says he will step down next month to let President-elect Donald Trump name his choice to lead the agency.

Transportation officials will hold a news conference Thursday morning to update the public on efforts to improve air travel experience ahead of one of the busiest holiday travel seasons on record.

Federal agencies are investigating the incidents amid a push to address runway safety.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver remarks at a brunch in celebration of Black Excellence Friday at noon.

The Federal Aviation Administration released an alarming update about the number of laser strikes aimed at aircraft in Florida.

Federal Aviation Administration officials say the agency has doubled its number of enforcement cases against Boeing since a door plug blew off a 737 Max in midflight.

The Federal Aviation Administration is hosting a briefing to discuss how it plans to handle the heat of summer travel volume and what’s done to keep planes moving safely around severe weather.

Following the Alaska Airlines aircraft’s blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage, a local aviation expert is weighing in on this scary incident.

Although usually fiction, a flying car could soon become reality.

The average annual salary for a controller in 2021 was $129,750, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and controllers also get to have top-notch benefits working for the government.

The FAA is on a hiring spree right now as it looks to add more air traffic controllers. There is a shortage right now across the country that could affect summer traveling.

U.S. air travel returned mostly to normal Thursday, a day after a computer system that sends safety information to pilots broke down and grounded traffic from coast to coast.

The FAA continues its investigation to determine who and what is responsible for the corrupted file that caused a flight safety system outage Wednesday.

Thousands of flights across the U.S. were canceled or delayed Wednesday after a government system that offers safety and other information to pilots broke down, stranding some planes on the ground for hours.

Thirty air traffic controllers have been hired for the federal air traffic control center in Hilliard, a source familiar with the Federal Aviation Administration’s plan told News4JAX.

Despite continued warnings from federal authorities, recent data show people are still pointing lasers at aircraft.

Camden county voters will have the final say on whether to build a spaceport in their backyard.

The FAA received 9,723 reports from pilots last year, a 41 percent increase over 2020.

The airline industry is raising the stakes in a showdown with AT&T and Verizon over plans to launch new 5G wireless service this week, warning that thousands of flights could be grounded or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports.

A federal agency on Monday granted a license for a launchpad that would fly commercial rockets from coastal Georgia.

Despite warnings from the Federal Aviation Administration about high-powered lasers being shined from the ground at aircraft above, new reports reveal another dramatic spike in the incidents that can incapacitate both airplane and helicopter pilots.

There’s a new warning about shining lasers at airplanes.

A single-engine Marquart 5 flew into power lines south of Waycross-Ware County Airport in Waycross, Ga., on Thursday.

The nation’s top aviation regulator is suggesting that local police around the country should file charges more often against unruly airline passengers and that airports should clamp down on alcohol sales.

A coastal community in southeast Georgia hopes to soon find out whether the federal government will allow it to build a launch site for commercial rockets.

Three people died Wednesday morning when a small plane when down off Violet Way at the end of Carter Spencer Road in Middleburg, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Macclenny, FL – An unregistered ultralight vehicle crashed in Baker County Saturday, according to Baker Country Sheriff’s Office. The incident happened near Highway 121 North, just 4 miles north of Macclenny and less than 2 miles away from the Georgia border. According to BCSO, the ultralight vehicle was flying East from a hanger behind Mt. That’s when the 53-year-old pilot tried turning the vehicle back to the hanger, but started to rapidly lose altitude instead. The FAA was called to the scene, but said they will not investigate the incident because unregistered ultralight vehicles are not considered aircraft.

A Boeing 737 MAX 8 airliner lifts off for its first flight in Renton, Washington. CHICAGO - US stocks closed higher Monday, but the rally would have been even stronger if it hadn't been for Boeing, whose falling shares held back the Dow. Boeing shares closed down nearly 4%, which translates into a nearly 13 point drag on the Dow. While the troubled company wasn't the only Dow stock in the red, it weighed on the index the most heavily. After those reports surfaced, Boeing stock dragged the Dow lower, and the index closed down more than 250 points.

Scott Olson/Getty Images(CNN) - The Dow dropped some 200 points Friday, following a sharp drop in Boeing's shares. Boeing shares traded down 3.3%. The Dow dropped nearly 200 points, or 0.7%, while the broader S&P 500 was down 0.6%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite is 1.2% lower. The-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company.

Netweb01 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]NEW YORK (CNN) - Do you know who might be pointing a blue laser at incoming airplanes near JFK? The laser appears to be originating from the area of Roslyn, New York, a town on Long Island, according to an FBI announcement. It added that the laser beams, which illuminate aircraft cabins and can temporarily blind pilots, are part of an increase in "laser incidents" around New York. A serious crimeAir Line Pilots Association International President Captain Lee Moak described the risk pilots face from lasers as unacceptable. "Pointing lasers at aircraft in flight poses a serious safety risk to the traveling public," he said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In addition to gunfire-detection technology and a bullet-tracing database, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office now has access to some extra eyes in the sky to help keep the public safe. So far this year, the JSO unmanned aerial systems unit has conducted approximately 535 flights in support of these missions, JSO Investigations and Homeland Security Director Nick Burgos said. RELATED: First responders want drones to help with search & rescue missionsThe new unit is not unique to JSO. Like JSO, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department also has its own fleet of drones piloted by seven FAA-licensed drone pilots, including three captains, a lieutenant and three engineers, JFRD Interim Fire Chief Keith Powers said. Since then, the department has received authorization from the FAA to operate anywhere within 45 nautical miles of Jacksonville, though there are some exceptions.

A Boeing 737 MAX airplane is pictured on he tarmac with its signature winglet and fuel efficient engines outside the company's factory on March 11, 2019 in Renton, Washington. (CNN) - Aviation authorities from around the world may not immediately follow the FAA's lead whenever the US agency decides to allow the Boeing 737 Max to fly again, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said Wednesday. "I think a phased ungrounding of the airplane amongst regulators from around the world is a possibility," he said. A phased in recertification will cause problems, since most of the nearly 400 planes in service at the time of the grounding fly for non-US carriers. Muilenburg said Boeing still hopes to get approval for the plane to fly early in the fourth quarter, which beings Oct. 1.

A seaplane crash-landed in Michigan and caught on fire after the crash. The pilot and a passenger were taken to the hospital but appear to have minor injuries, and no one on the ground was injured. INDEPENDENCE TWP, Mich. - Multiple emergency crews are on scene of a seaplane crash in the yard of a home in Independence Township near Detroit Michigan. According to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, the sea plane crashed in a neighborhood on Greenview Dr. near Clarkston Rd. Sheriff Mike Bouchard said that the pilot and the passenger were taken to the hospital but appear to have minor injuries, and no one on the ground was injured.

KOMO via CNN(CNN) - A new flaw has been discovered in the computer system for the Boeing 737 Max that could push the plane downward, according to two sources familiar with the testing, an issue that is expected to further delay the aircraft's return to service. A series of simulator flights to test new software developed by Boeing revealed the flaw, according to one of the sources. Boeing engineers are now trying to address the issue, which has led to another delay in recertifying the 737 Max. The sources say Boeing engineers are trying to determine if the microprocessor issue can be fixed by reprogramming software or if replacing the physical microprocessors on each 737 Max aircraft may be required. Gregory Martin, an FAA spokesman, said Wednesday the regulator "is following a thorough process, not a prescribed timeline, for returning the Boeing 737 Max to passenger service."

A startup company has an idea for flying cars. It hopes to have the cars up and running by 2017. AeroMobil has been around for 5 years, and is now showing off the new vehicles in Austin, Texas. Getting the flying cars approved the FAA will not be easy. AeroMobil is still looking for the right parts to keep the car light enough for flight, yet still sturdy.