April 24th, 2026

LOS ANGELES, CA — Following Monday’s downed plane outside of Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, and after today’s release of audio from the air traffic control tower, Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath issues the following statement:

“I remain deeply concerned about the circumstances that led to the downed airplane near Whiteman Airport, and take seriously the County’s role in getting answers from our governmental partners entrusted to safely administer operations.

A plane going down in a commercial corridor next to neighborhoods should never happen—and our Pacoima community deserves answers.

While the National Transportation Safety Board conducts its investigation, I am directing the County Department of Public Works to identify immediate actions within our authority to strengthen safety around Whiteman Airport, building on recommendations from the Community Advisory Committee.

Calls for reduced hours and safer fuel alternatives are meaningful and within our power. In June 2024, the County introducing unleaded fuel and implemented a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.—and we must continue evaluating what more can be done. Yet, there is no indication these steps would have prevented this midday crash, and we must implement every measure possible to protect our communities.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which manages the air traffic control tower, must also answer for what we are hearing on that audio. I am calling on the FAA to conduct a full review of air traffic control operations, determine whether there was a failure in communication or response, and outline steps to help prevent this from happening again.

I also look forward to working with my partners in the City of Los Angeles and the Department of Water and Power to advance safety enhancements around the airport, including undergrounding utilities, and urge LADWP to investigate whether any power issues affected control tower operations.

As the Board prepares to consider the future of Whiteman Airport, this incident underscores what is at stake: the safety and well-being of the surrounding community must come first.”

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