Latest news with #BettyMcCollum
Malay Mail
22-07-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
FAA probes near miss call between SkyWest jet, US Air Force B-52 in North Dakota
WASHINGTON, July 22 — The Federal Aviation Administration said on Monday it is investigating a near miss between a SkyWest Airlines jet and a US Air Force jet over North Dakota last week. SkyWest Flight 3788, an Embraer ERJ-175 operating as a Delta Connection flight from Minneapolis to Minot, North Dakota, landed safely in Minot on Friday after performing a go-around during its landing approach when another plane became visible in its flight path, SkyWest said. The Air Force confirmed a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot Air Force Base conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair on Friday. 'We are currently looking into the matter,' the Air Force said. The SkyWest pilot reportedly said the incident caught him by surprise, prompting him to make an aggressive move to avoid a possible collision, according to a video recording posted by a passenger on social media. SkyWest did not immediately comment on the video or confirm its accuracy. Representative Betty McCollum, a Minnesota Democrat, said she was highly concerned with the incident. 'The incident in Minot raises serious questions about passenger safety,' McCollum said. 'Given the Department of Defense training that takes place in the surrounding area, Minot International Airport must also immediately receive and install radar technology to have a full accounting of all local air traffic.' The FAA noted that air traffic services were provided by the Minot air traffic control tower, which is run by a private company and not FAA employees. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating another close call involving a Delta jet and a group of Air Force jets near Reagan Washington National Airport on March 28. The jet in that incident, a Delta Airbus A319, received a cockpit collision warning alert that another aircraft was nearby, and controllers issued corrective instructions to the Delta plane and one of the military jets. The Delta plane had been cleared to depart as four Air Force T-38 Talons were heading to nearby Arlington National Cemetery for a flyover. The NTSB said in a preliminary report there had been confusion about when controllers were to halt traffic during the flyover. There has been intense focus on military traffic near civilian airplanes since an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional jet on January 29 near Reagan National, killing 67 people. In early May the FAA barred Army helicopter flights around the Pentagon after another near miss. — Reuters
Reuters
22-07-2025
- General
- Reuters
FAA investigating SkyWest jet's near miss with B-52 bomber over North Dakota
WASHINGTON, July 21 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said on Monday it is investigating a near miss between a SkyWest Airlines (SKYW.O), opens new tab jet and a U.S. Air Force jet over North Dakota last week. SkyWest Flight 3788, an Embraer ERJ-175 operating as a Delta Connection (DAL.N), opens new tab flight from Minneapolis to Minot, North Dakota, landed safely in Minot on Friday after performing a go-around during its landing approach when another plane became visible in its flight path, SkyWest said. The Air Force confirmed a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot Air Force Base conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair on Friday. "We are currently looking into the matter," the Air Force said. The SkyWest pilot reportedly said the incident caught him by surprise, prompting him to make an aggressive move to avoid a possible collision, according to a video recording posted by a passenger on social media. SkyWest did not immediately comment on the video or confirm its accuracy. Representative Betty McCollum, a Minnesota Democrat, said she was highly concerned with the incident. "The incident in Minot raises serious questions about passenger safety," McCollum said. "Given the Department of Defense training that takes place in the surrounding area, Minot International Airport must also immediately receive and install radar technology to have a full accounting of all local air traffic." The FAA noted that air traffic services were provided by the Minot air traffic control tower, which is run by a private company and not FAA employees. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating another close call involving a Delta jet and a group of Air Force jets near Reagan Washington National Airport on March 28. The jet in that incident, a Delta Airbus A319, received a cockpit collision warning alert that another aircraft was nearby, and controllers issued corrective instructions to the Delta plane and one of the military jets. The Delta plane had been cleared to depart as four Air Force T-38 Talons were heading to nearby Arlington National Cemetery for a flyover. The NTSB said in a preliminary report there had been confusion about when controllers were to halt traffic during the flyover. There has been intense focus on military traffic near civilian airplanes since an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab regional jet on January 29 near Reagan National, killing 67 people. In early May the FAA barred Army helicopter flights around the Pentagon after another near miss.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hegseth in Angry Clashes Over Eye-Watering Bill for L.A. Troops
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fiercely defended deploying Marines and the National Guard to Los Angeles, a move that the Department of Defense revealed would cost an estimated $134 million. The Pentagon chief appeared on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, where he got into heated exchanges with multiple Democrats. 'In Los Angeles, we believe ICE, which is a federal law enforcement agency, has the right to safely conduct operations in any state and any jurisdiction in the country,' Hegseth declared. His comments came as he was being pressed by ranking member Betty McCollum about the cost of the deployment. During their testy exchange, Hegseth refused to answer how much the mobilization would cost, but it was later revealed in the hearing that the deployment would cost an estimated $134 million, including travel, housing, and food. McCollum blasted the president's decision to deploy 700 Marines and some 4,000 National Guard troops as premature and escalatory. She argued that local law enforcement and the governor calling in the National Guard in her home state of Minnesota in 2020 over the protests over George Floyd's death were able to handle the situation, and the decision to mobilize the Marines put them in a deeply unfair position. The congresswoman asked Hegseth to reveal the cost of the deployment and how it would affect the budget, as well as what training would not take place because of it, but Hegseth would not answer the question directly. The defense secretary instead fired back that in 2020, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz 'abandoned a police precinct and allowed it to be burned to the ground.' He also claimed the National Guard was called in too late. 'President Trump recognizes a situation like that improperly handled by a governor, like it was by Governor Walz, if it gets out of control, is a bad situation for the citizens of any location,' Hegseth claimed. He also declared ICE should be able to operate in any jurisdiction in the country and blasted the previous administration for illegal border crossings. McCollum tried to cut in and point out that she had asked a budget question, but Hegseth kept going. 'We believe ICE agents should be allowed to be safe in doing their operations, and we have deployed National Guard and the Marines to protect them in the execution of their duties,' he insisted. 'We ought to be able to enforce immigration law in this country, unlike what Governor Waltz did in 2020.' Hegseth also claimed the police chief said she was overwhelmed, 'so we helped.' However, the Los Angeles Police Chief called the deployment a 'significant logistical and operational challenge.' As Hegseth continued to evade answering, even the Republican chairman tried to get him to answer the budget question. 'Thankfully, unlike the previous administration, we got a 13 percent increase in our defense budget, and we will have the capability to cover down on contingencies,' the defense secretary claimed. Hegseth called it important to maintain law and order in a major American city, leaving the door open to future domestic military activity. He also said all the units were fully trained. McCollum was not the only Democrat who grilled Hegseth over the deployment. Rep. Pete Aguilar noted images of the troops sleeping on floors and not being provided food or water by the Defense Department, and asked why they were not prepared with basic necessities. On Monday, California Governor Newsom said only 300 of the mobilized National Guard troops were being utilized and those deployed were not provided food or water. 'The commanders and troops in the field are very well prepared, sir,' Hegseth insisted. 'They responded incredibly rapidly to a deteriorating situation with equipment and capabilities.' The defense secretary then noted that he himself had been in a unit 'holding riot shields outside the White House during the chaos of the summer of 2020, I know what it's like to be immediately deployed into a situation like that.' 'There are moments where you make do the best you can temporarily,' Hegseth said. 'But we are ensuring they're housed, fed, with water capabilities in real time from my office because I care that much about the California guard, and the Marines and the men and women who are supporting our ICE agents on the ground.' Aguilar said that was not the case on the ground, and he should look into it, but Hegseth said that was a 'disingenuous attack.' 'I'm not going to take the fact that we don't care about the troops,' he said, pointing his finger at the congressman. 'Nobody cares more about the troops at the top than this secretary and the chairman and our department.' Hegseth said the deployment would last 60 days. He also denied that money for the operation would come from programs that affect military families. While Hegseth blasted Newsom and accused him of failing to 'protect his people,' the governor has sued the Trump administration over what he has called the illegal deployment of troops to Los Angeles, as he did not request the National Guard be called in. It is the first time since 1965 that a president called National Guard troops to respond to civil unrest without the governor's official request for assistance, in a move experts have called unprecedented. Federal troops are also prohibited from using military force against civilians in normal law enforcement, with the rare exception under the Insurrection Act. However, the president has not invoked the Insurrection Act. The president said on Tuesday, 'If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it.' But that did not stop the defense secretary from defending the move. 'You and I both know that President Trump has all the authorities necessary,' Hegseth told Aguilar.
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Hegseth clashes with Democrats over $134 million cost to deploy troops to LA protests
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed with House Democrats on Tuesday as he defended President Donald Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles despite California leaders' objections. Appearing before the House appropriations subcommittee, Hegseth doubled down on Trump's narrative about the anti-immigration raid protests, saying it was necessary to deploy 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. 'We want to ensure that those rioters, looters, and thugs on the other side assaulting our police officers know that we're not going anywhere,' Hegseth said. Hegseth sparred with Democrats over the matter, who demanded to know where the Defense Department was getting $134 million from and why it was being used for the situation. When Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum asked Hegseth about the cost to deploy the personnel, Hegseth blamed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for not protecting police during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. 'ICE ought be able to do it's job whether it's Minneapolis or Los Angeles,' Hegseth said. McCollum accused Hegseth of refusing to answer her question. Acting Pentagon Comptroller Bryn MacDonnell told representatives that the estimated cost was $134 million and largely covered travel, housing, and food for the military personnel. Hegseth became more confrontational when California Rep. Pete Aguilar insinuated the military was not prepared to house or feed personnel who have been deployed, calling it a 'disingenuous attack.' 'I'm not going to take the fact that we don't care about the troops, nobody cares more about the troops at the top than this secretary,' Hegseth said. Aguilar asked Hegseth which legal reason the president was relying on to justify ignoring California Governor Gavin Newsom's objection to the National Guard. He cited invasion by a foreign nation, rebellion against the government, or the president's inability to execute the law with regular forces. 'I don't know. You just read it yourself, and people can listen themselves, but it sounds like all three to me,' Hegseth replied. Trump invoked a rarely-used power to activate 2,000 National Guard members on Saturday against the wishes of Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass after some of the protests led to instances of civil unrest. Despite declining violence, the president ordered another 2,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles on Monday. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell rebuked the need for Marines and said he was 'confident' in the department and its partners' abilities to manage large-scale demonstrations. He warned that introducing federal military forces could create confusion and logistical issues. While Trump deployed 700 Marines to the city, General Eric Smith, the Marine Corps Commandant, said the active-duty battalion in Los Angeles had not yet been called into action to protect federal property and personnel. Newsom has asked a federal court to intervene in the matter and declare that Marines and other troops cannot perform law enforcement activities.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Defense Sec. Hegseth refuses to provide lawmakers details on costs of sending Marines to Los Angeles
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has refused to answer questions on the cost of deploying Marines to L.A. when asked by the subcommittee's top Democrat. Rep. Betty McCollum said 'this is a deeply unfair position to put our Marines in.'
