Musk's SpaceX to reform US air traffic control despite conflict of interest

Elon Musk continues to expand his influence on the US government. This time, his company SpaceX has joined the reform of the air traffic control system, The Verge reports.

After the tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C., where an American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided, causing numerous casualties, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) fired hundreds of probationary employees. This was part of the Trump administration's initiative to reduce the federal workforce.

In response to the crisis, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy invited the SpaceX team led by Elon Musk to join the Virginia Air Traffic Control Center to support the reform of the system. He noted that he wants to create a world-class air traffic control system with Musk's participation and called on other technology companies to join this initiative.

However, critics fear a conflict of interest, as SpaceX is a government contractor, and Elon Musk has previously had disputes with the FAA. In particular, under the leadership of Michael Whitaker, the agency imposed fines on SpaceX for violating safety rules during launches, which caused public criticism from Musk and calls for Whitaker's resignation. As a result, Whitaker resigned on January 20, 2025, during Trump's inauguration, leaving the FAA without a permanent leader.

Despite these concerns, Duffy defends the cooperation with Musk, emphasizing the need to modernize the air traffic control system and attract the best technological specialists to ensure air travel safety.