US Senators Urge FAA to Study Impact of Reduced Flight Attendant Staffing

Senators Tammy Duckworth and Tammy Baldwin have formally requested that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigate the safety implications of reduced flight attendant staffing on long-haul widebody flights. The lawmakers express serious concern that current regulations, which allow one flight attendant per 50 passengers, may result in fewer crew members than emergency exit doors during evacuations. This scenario could leave exits unattended and passengers vulnerable, particularly if a crew member becomes incapacitated. Major carriers, including American Airlines, Delta, and United, have received FAA approval for these reduced minimums. The senators highlighted a specific case where American Airlines’ Boeing 787-9P was certified with seven attendants despite having eight exit doors. Additionally, the letter demands answers regarding overdue evacuation testing mandated by Congress, which was due in May 2025 but remains incomplete. Flight attendant unions support the senators' stance, arguing that leaving exits unattended creates dangerous gaps in safety and increases the risk of chaos and injury during emergencies. The FAA maintains that its regulations are based on seating capacity and successful evacuation demonstrations.