Cruz: Nominate FAA Admin Who Can’t Answer Question Why Were 346 People Killed In Horrific Crashes

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) delivered a crushing indictment of the Biden administration’s FAA Administrator nomination during Phil Washington’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing, calling it “striking” that the administration would nominate someone unable to answer why 346 people were killed in the Boeing 737 MAX crashes. Cruz pointed to Washington’s predecessor, Administrator Steve Dixon, who personally flew the 737 MAX after FAA recertified the aircraft — demonstrating the level of aviation expertise the position demands. Cruz characterized FAA Administrator as a “specialized position” for which neither he nor most committee members were qualified.

The 346 Victims Context

Lion Air Flight 610: October 2018 crash killed 189 people in Indonesia.
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302: March 2019 crash killed 157 people in Ethiopia.
Total casualties: 346 total deaths across both crashes.
International victims: Victims from multiple countries worldwide.
Family impact: Extensive family impact across continents.

The 737 MAX Grounding

Unprecedented grounding: 737 MAX grounded worldwide following second crash.
20-month duration: Aircraft grounded for approximately 20 months.
Industry impact: Massive impact on Boeing and airline industry.
Certification reform: Drove certification reform legislation.
Public confidence: Severely damaged public confidence in Boeing.

Washington’s Inability to Answer

Technical limitations: Admitted inability to answer sensor question.
Non-pilot status: Cited non-pilot status for limitations.
Cruz’s characterization: Cruz called the inability “striking.”
Fundamental problem: Cruz identified as fundamental problem with nomination.
Public implications: Public aviation safety implications clear.

The Dixon Comparison

Predecessor Administrator: Steve Dixon served as previous FAA Administrator.
Personal test flight: Dixon personally flew 737 MAX after recertification.
Expertise demonstration: Flight demonstrated his aviation expertise.
Leadership through action: Showed leadership through technical engagement.
Public confidence: Helped rebuild public confidence.

Cruz’s Self-Disqualification

“Not qualified”: Cruz explicitly said he was not qualified for FAA Administrator.
“No idea how to fly”: Admitted he didn’t know how to fly.
Intellectual honesty: Demonstrated intellectual honesty about expertise.
Committee parallel: Suggested most committee members similarly unqualified.
Principle over politics: Prioritized principle over partisan preference.

The “Specialized Position” Framework

Technical expertise: FAA Administrator requires technical expertise.
Aviation knowledge: Deep aviation knowledge expected.
Industry experience: Industry experience considered essential.
Safety expertise: Aviation safety expertise critical.
Certification authority: Authority over aircraft certification.

The Administration’s Defense

Military service: Military veteran emphasized.
Transportation leadership: Transit leadership credentials.
Airport management: Denver airport management experience.
Diverse leadership: Diverse leadership portfolio.
Management principles: General management principles transferable.

The MCAS Failures

Software system: Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System.
Single sensor dependence: Initial reliance on single angle-of-attack sensor.
Redundancy failure: Failed to build appropriate redundancy.
Training inadequacy: Inadequate pilot training on system.
Certification failure: FAA certification process failures.

Boeing Accountability

Settlement agreements: Family settlement agreements.
Criminal case: Deferred prosecution agreement with DOJ.
Corporate reforms: Corporate reform commitments.
Cultural changes: Claimed cultural changes at Boeing.
Ongoing oversight: Continued regulatory oversight.

The Regulatory Reform

Aircraft Certification Reform: Aircraft Certification Reform and Accountability Act.
Enhanced oversight: Enhanced FAA oversight authorities.
Safety management: Safety management system requirements.
Whistleblower protections: Enhanced whistleblower protections.
International alignment: International regulatory alignment efforts.

The Public Safety Implications

Flying public: Public relies on FAA oversight.
Pilot confidence: Pilots depend on FAA safety framework.
Manufacturing oversight: Manufacturers require regulatory clarity.
International aviation: International aviation safety cooperation.
Traveler confidence: Traveler confidence in system.

The Hearing’s Historical Significance

Record establishment: Established clear public record.
Nomination death: Effectively killed the nomination.
Institutional learning: Institutional learning for confirmations.
Policy implications: Policy implications for future nominations.
Media coverage: Significant media coverage impact.

Key Takeaways

Sen. Ted Cruz called it “striking” that the administration nominated an FAA Administrator unable to answer about 346 crash deaths.
Cruz cited former Administrator Steve Dixon personally flying the 737 MAX after recertification as example of required expertise.
Cruz admitted he himself was “not qualified” to be FAA Administrator, lacking aviation expertise.
The senator characterized FAA Administrator as a “specialized position” requiring specific qualifications.
The 346 people killed in the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes resulted in the 737 MAX’s unprecedented 20-month grounding.
The hearing established clear public record that proved devastating to the nomination.

Transcript Highlights

The following quotations are drawn from an AI-generated Whisper transcript of the hearing and should be considered unverified pending official transcript release.

“For this administration to nominate someone as FAA administrator who can’t answer the question why were 346 people killed in horrific crashes that resulted in the 737 Max being grounded for a long time is striking.” — Sen. Cruz
“FAA administrator is a specialized position. I’m not qualified to be FAA administrator. I have no idea how to fly a plane.” — Sen. Cruz
“No one in their right mind would put me in charge of aviation safety because I don’t have that experience.” — Sen. Cruz
“Administrator Dixon, after the FAA recertified the 737 Max, he went and flew it personally.” — Sen. Cruz
“Mr. Washington, I believe you. But at the end of the day, that’s the fundamental problem.” — Sen. Cruz
“I suspect most of the members of this committee are in a similar position.” — Sen. Cruz

Full transcript: 138 words transcribed via Whisper AI.