Eleanor Holmes Norton, a non-voting House Democrat from Washington, D.C., is calling for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to hold a hearing on aviation safety after the fatality on a Southwest Airlines flight, The Hill is reporting.
Norton made her request in a letter, citing Tuesday’s Southwest Airlines fatality.
The Boeing 737 had to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia after it blew an engine. Shrapnel smashed a window, killing one passenger and injuring seven others.
She also noted a "60 Minutes" story about mechanical problems on Allegiant Air.
Norton, a member of the committee, wrote: "As we prepare to consider legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, I believe we should ensure that aviation safety remains at the forefront of our efforts."
The Hill noted Norton was referring to a recently unveiled five-year reauthorization of the FAA.
"Holding a hearing on this issue would allow us to gather valuable information and demonstrate our commitment to ensuring the safety of the millions of Americans who rely on our nation’s airlines each year,” she added.
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