BURSTAn air traffic controller positioned at Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., was arrested Thursday night following an incident inside the control tower.
Damon Marsalis Gaines, 39, of Upper Marlboro, Md., faces assault and battery charges after being arrested by airport authorities following an altercation at the airport, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.
“The employee is on administrative leave while we investigate the matter,” the FAA said in a statement to The Hill.
The incident comes as National Airport faces nationwide attention following a collision earlier this year that raised awareness about the increase in flights at and near the airport. The crash left 67 people dead.
Amid concerns, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that the FAA permanently ban certain helicopter routes around the airport when specific runways are in use.