NTSB Member Fired by Trump, Raises Concerns

0:00What's up? This is Global News Today, bringing you the fastest global updates right now. A national transportation safety board member named Todd Inman has been fired by the Trump administration without any explanation. He got the notice Friday from the White House personnel office, effective right away. Inman was a key figure in probing last year's deadly midair crash near Washington, D.C., where a passenger jet collided with an army helicopter, killing 67 people. Inman also led the early response to a UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky that took 15 lives. The NTSB sends board members to big accident sites to oversee initial work and briefings. Right now, the board's website lists just three members out of the usual five. In his statement, Inman praised the NTSB staff as world class and stressed how vital their safety mission is, especially after working with families. And first responders on those tragedies. He hopes the agency stays free from political interference.

1:01This comes after the board's vice chair, Alvin Brown, was suddenly removed last year, along with Robert Primus from another transportation board. Both men are black and have sued over their firings, with groups filing discrimination claims on their behalf. The White House has not commented yet on Inman's case, but previously defended their earlier removals as based on performance, not bias. Meanwhile, the NTSB is handling nearly 1,250 investigations into accidents across aviation, rail, and more. This episode is proudly sponsored by our partner, your pillow, your podcast, your moment, made for listening and bed, S-O-L-I-S-O-L-Pillow.com.