The LA County Aviation Commission held a meeting over safety concerns at Whiteman Airport on Wednesday.
It comes as the airport has been under scrutiny after a small plane clipped power lines and crashed in a parking lot, injuring a pilot, in Pacoima last week. But those who spoke during public comment at the meeting shared reasons for keeping the airport’s doors open.
“Any accident that has happened has had nothing to do with the airport itself,” said Penny Alderson, owner of Vista Air.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are still investigating what caused the crash, according to LA County Aviation Division Chief Jason Morgan. In the meantime, the airport manager went door to door distributing flyers with information about mental health resources and insurance claims for the community.
“The airport is safe. We are operating the airport in a safe and compliant condition. We’re inspected annually by Caltrans, the FAA, etc.,” Morgan said.
Last week, Councilmember Monica Rodriguez called the airport poorly managed and reiterated calls to close it due to repeated plane crashes. County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath called on Public Works to take immediate actions to improve safety conditions.
Video shows the moment good Samaritans ran to the scene of a small plane crash in Pacoima to help the pilot out of the wreckage. Jonathan Gonzalez reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026.
The Whiteman Airport Coalition, made up of local aviation officials and neighbors, said it too wants to see upgrades to keep the airport operational — and keep more than 20 businesses and 400 jobs alive, along with a myriad of youth programs.
“Lindsay Horvath has stopped us being able to access FAA funds to improve the runway, the taxiways, the tower, the equipment and the tower, just many things around the airport itself,” Alderson said.
In 2024, LA County launched a study to determine whether Whiteman Airport should close and what might replace it. It’s expected to wrap up later this year.
Aviation safety expert Steve Cowell argues against shutting it down, saying the airport is safe and generates $110 million a year.
“It’s a crucial airfield. It supports LA County Fire, Cal Fire operations, and so forth,” Cowell said. “What is going to resolve the problem is a matter of working with the controllers, working with the airports, and managing the airspace to a greater extent.”
A local coalition said LA County does not have the authority to shut down Whiteman Airport. Jonathan Gonzalez reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
NBCLA reached out to Horvath’s office to ask specifically about the frozen FAA funding, but she referred us to her statement from Friday, in which she calls on the FAA to conduct a full review of air traffic control operations.
A community meeting is planned for Thursday night to discuss environmental and safety concerns surrounding the airport.
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