Yesterday morning many of us were spooked by the news out of El Paso. A complete ground stop had taken place for all flights in an out — for ten days — a completely unprecedented measure. The closest thing we’d seen was the complete ground stop after 9/11, but that was for only 2 days.
In the interim, we’ve seen any number of excuses as to why it happened just prior to midnight Tuesday night, then about 11 hours later on Wednesday morning, just as abruptly pulled. From a cartel drone to a party balloon. None of them explained the ten days, though. Why ten days?
I believe Chuck Devore over at Fox News Opinion has it.
“…On Tuesday night, according to media reports, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford decided to close the airspace for 10 days without alerting the White House, the Pentagon or local officials. Whether on his own or at the urging of career FAA employees, the FAA’s overreaction reeked of malicious compliance — bureaucrats following the letter of policy while producing an absurd, counterproductive result.”
Notable that he did not alert “the White House, the Pentagon or local officials” and that reeks, as Mr. Devore opined, of “malicious compliance” which we’ve seen from any number of “deep-staters” in the Trump Administration. There are lots of them embedded, even among his own nominees, of which FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is one.
It’s time for Mr. Bedford to have a little sit down with the boss. He needs a good talking to, and then, if it were me, a good kick out the door.