The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has come under fire for its latest diversity and inclusion hiring initiative.
The FAA is implementing a Diversity and Inclusion Hiring Initiative specifically targeting individuals with disabilities, including “severe intellectual” disabilities, psychiatric disorders, and other physical conditions.
According to the FAA, targeted disabilities are those disabilities that the federal government has determined, as a matter of policy, for special emphasis in recruiting and hiring. The targeted disabilities are:
- Hearing (complete deafness in both ears)
- vision (blind)
- Missing limbs
- Partial paralysis
- Complete paralysis and epilepsy
- Severe mental disability
- Psychological disability
- Dwarfism
This initiative falls under the umbrella of the Department of Transportation, which is supervised by Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The Federal Aviation Administration, the pivotal government agency responsible for regulating civil aviation, employs approximately 45,000 people, according to Fox News.
The timing of this initiative is noteworthy, especially in light of the recent scrutiny the FAA and the airline industry faced following a Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane malfunction during an Alaska Airlines flight.
A malfunctioning emergency door used as a regular cabin window exploded at 16,000 feet. There were six crew members and 171 passengers on board.
An X/Twitter user discovered a recording of the pilot frantically calling air traffic control after the plane section exploded. The sound is chilling.
I found @liveatc registration #ASA1282 A state of emergency was declared with the Seattle Center around 5:12 PM PT. The plane would have been at approximately 12,000 feet and climbing. “Ahhh, we want to get off.” pic.twitter.com/P8xxJ5nsbj
— Brian McGuigan (@bricaul) January 6, 2024
It should be noted that Alaska Airlines' CFO has expressed support for implementing the “neo-Marxist strategy” for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
CFO for @Alaska Air Airlines are committed to implementing the new Marxist Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy:
“Alaska’s values – personal safety, doing the right thing, and kindness – are the foundation of who we are and what drives us to be airline employees… pic.twitter.com/8ou296qiPT
— Michael O’Fallon – Sovereign Nations (@SovMichael) January 15, 2024
In case you're wondering what @alaskayer They have focused on diversity and inclusion, making their planes gay, and having female flight attendants.
If you're on a plane in Alaska, just pray that the diverse staff doesn't make mistakes and that they put the same energy into… pic.twitter.com/xg41yL9UYQ
– Libs TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 11, 2024
Public figures, including Elon Musk, have weighed in on the matter, suggesting a potential conflict between DEI initiatives and airline safety.
“It will take a plane crash and hundreds of people killed for them to change this crazy policy of DIE,” Musk wrote, in a statement on his X platform, paraphrasing DEI.
It will take a plane crash and hundreds of people killed for them to change this crazy DIE policy
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 9, 2024
In another post, Musk wrote: “Would you want to fly on a plane where they prioritized DEI over your safety? This is actually happening.”
Would you want to fly on a plane where they prioritized DEI over your safety? This is already happening. https://t.co/FcTyzZD0uW
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 10, 2024
“People will die because of DEI,” he added.
People will die because of DEI https://t.co/RXCv6M4gGU
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 10, 2024
