WASHINGTON — Pilot error was the probable cause of an airline crash into a house near Buffalo, N.Y., last year, killing 50, but the accident’s root problems extend far beyond a single event, a federal safety panel said Tuesday.
The head of the National Transportation Safety Board, Deborah Hersman, said the accident casts doubt on whether regional airlines are held to the same level of safety as are major airlines, and she promised the board will pursue the issue. She also criticized the Federal Aviation Administration for taking too long to address safety problems raised by the crash, saying the same issues have turned up before.
The FAA said in a statement that it has driven significant improvements in pilot professionalism, training and background checks in the past year.
The agency said it will soon propose new rules to prevent pilot fatigue, further improve training and increase the qualifications required to be an airline pilot.
