Flying is still safe, for now — but the FAA isn’t

Decoder with Nilay Patel

Vox Media Podcast Network

Technology, Business

4.3 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 6 March 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

So today I’m talking to Andy Hawkins, The Verge’s transportation editor, about what’s going on in the skies. Andy just edited a big piece for us by writer Darryl Campbell that helps put a lot of what’s happening in air travel right now in perspective. It has some very reassuring data points, but it also raises important questions about what we need to do next to reinstill confidence in air travel. Andy and I talked about how safe it really is to fly right now — extremely safe, it turns out — and how the current air traffic systems might change for better and worse. And, of course, we talked about Elon Musk. Links: What’s the deal with all these airplane crashes? | Verge How Elon Musk muscled his way into the FAA | Bloomberg Elon Musk says upgrade of FAA’s air traffic control system is failing | CNN FAA targeting Verizon contract in favor of Musk’s Starlink, sources say | WashPo FAA officials ordered staff to find funding for Elon Musk’s Starlink | Rolling Stone FAA announces ‘hiring supercharge’ for air traffic controllers | Forbes Air traffic control trainees to get raise, in nod to cost of living | NYT Some of the 400 jobs that were cut at the FAA helped support air safety | AP DC plane crash marks first major commercial crash in US since 2009 | ABC What the ATC controller sees | Flight Training Central Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for the show comes from Alex Partners.
0:04.3	If you're in the tech industry, wondering how artificial intelligence is going to affect your business might seem like the new normal by now.
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0:23.9	by reading Alex Partners' latest technology industry insights,
0:28.1	available at www.l-W-W-W-Alexpartners.com slash Vox.
0:32.7	That's www.a-L-I-X Partners.com slash V-O-X. In the face of disruption, businesses trust Alex
0:43.0	partners to get straight to the point and deliver results when it really matters.
0:51.2	Hello and welcome to Decoder. I'm Nilai Patel, editor-in-chief of The Verge, and Decoder is my show about big ideas and other problems.
0:57.5	So I was on a flight back home to New York the other day, and something really odd happened when we landed.
1:01.8	The passengers all burst into applause.
1:05.4	Now, I've seen this happen before, but only really on flights where there's been really bad turbulence or a big delay.
1:11.0	But this was a totally boring flight that took off and landed on time with no drama whatsoever.
1:16.6	So why the clapping?
1:18.5	Well, you know why.
1:19.9	There have been a lot of plane crashes or near crashes lately,
1:23.2	and it's all against the backdrop of the Trump administration and Elon Musk firing FAA employees
1:28.9	and talking about upgrading with Starlink or whatever they're tweeting about today.
1:33.1	Just this week, there are reports that have detailed exactly how Elon has wedged his way into the FAA
1:38.5	to force SpaceX into the conversation, including a move to take over an existing Verizon contract, and even
1:45.1	threatening FAA employees with termination if they don't get on board.
	...

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