BOARD APPROVES HORVATH MOTION TO STRENGTHEN SAFETY AT WHITEMAN AIRPORT
May 5th, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today approved a motion by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath to strengthen safety measures at Whiteman Airport and demand transparency and accountability from federal agencies following the April 20 plane crash near the airport.
Los Angeles County owns and maintains Whiteman Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees air traffic control operations, pilot protocols, and navigable airspace, while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is responsible for investigating aviation incidents, determining probable cause, and issuing safety recommendations.
“A plane going down next to homes and businesses in Pacoima should never happen—and our community deserves answers,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “There are multiple agencies with responsibility here—the County, the FAA, the NTSB, the City of Los Angeles, and LADWP—and this motion demands clarity on who is responsible for what, because accountability cannot exist without it. While the County owns and maintains the airport, federal agencies regulate the airspace and pilot activity. Every entity must step up—Pacoima deserves transparency, urgency, and real accountability.”
The approved motion directs County Public Works to take immediate action, including:
- Identifying near-term measures to further strengthen safety at Whiteman Airport, building on recommendations from the Community Advisory Committee
- Reporting back within 7 days with timelines, costs, and potential funding sources
- Providing an outline of responsibilities across jurisdictions, including the FAA, NTSB, Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
- Detailing applicable federal aviation regulations related to aircraft operations and pilot requirements.
At today’s Board meeting, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Deputy Director Steve Burger confirmed that a temporary pause on pursuing FAA grants during an ongoing study did not impact airport safety. He also confirmed that Whiteman Airport did not have any safety issues identified in its most recent annual inspections conducted by the FAA and Caltrans.
Supervisor Horvath sent letters to both the FAA and NTSB last week calling for urgent review of the April 20 incident.
This follows previous actions led by Supervisor Horvath to enhance the health and safety of the Pacoima community. This includes introducing unleaded fuel and implementing a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
A study considering the future of Whiteman Airport is underway.
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