E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSFederal Aviation Administration Chief Randy Babbitt resigned after being arrested over the weekend for driving while intoxicated in Virginia.
WASHINGTON -- Randy Babbitt resigned as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday after being charged over the weekend with driving while intoxicated.
"Today I submitted my resignation to Secretary Ray LaHood and it has been accepted," he said in a written statement. "Serving as FAA Administrator has been an absolute honor and the highlight of my professional career. But I am unwilling to let anything cast a shadow on the outstanding work done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by my colleagues at the FAA."
Police in Fairfax, Va., a suburb of Washington, said Babbitt, 65, was driving on the wrong side of the road when he was stopped at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday. Babbitt, who was alone in the vehicle, was found to be intoxicated, police said, and was held at a detention center, where he was charged and released on a personal recognizance bond.
Police said that Babbitt wasn't involved in an accident and that he cooperated with police.
Babbitt was appointed to lead the FAA in 2009. LaHood praised Babbitt on Tuesday for being an "outstanding leader."
Reuters
Federal Aviation Administration head Randy Babbitt is seen in this Fairfax County Sheriff's booking photograph released to Reuters on Dec. 5, 2011.
"I'm proud to say that we have the safest aviation system in the world, and thanks to Randy's stewardship, it became safer and stronger," he said in a written statement.
Babbitt apparently delayed telling administration officials about the arrest. White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Barack Obama and Transportation Department officials learned of the arrest Monday afternoon, about an hour before a 1:30 p.m. statement was released saying Babbitt had been placed on leave at his request.
Separately, Fairfax City police issued a statement on the arrest to the media at about noon Monday, which their policies require in cases where a public official has been arrested. Police refused to disclose the results of Babbitt's blood alcohol test. The legal limit is .08.
LaHood has aggressively campaigned against drunken driving, and is working with police agencies and safety advocates on an annual holiday crackdown on drinking and driving later this month. Safety advocates credit LaHood with doing more to raise the visibility of human factors in highway safety — including drunken driving, drivers distracted by cell phone use, and parents who fail to buckle in their children — than any previous transportation secretary.
Deputy FAA Administrator Michael Huerta will serve as acting administrator, the Transportation Department statement said. In recent months Huerta has been leading the FAA's troubled NextGen effort to transition from an air traffic control system based on World War II-era radar technology to one based on satellite technology.
Babbitt was a former airline captain and internationally recognized expert in aviation and labor relations when Obama tapped him in 2009 to head the FAA. He was a pilot for the now-defunct Eastern Airlines for 25 years, and had served as president of the Air Line Pilots Association. As head of ALPA, he championed the "one level of safety" initiative implemented in 1995 to improve safety standards across the airline industry.
Babbitt's nomination in 2009 was warmly received by both industry officials and airline unions. His easy manner and insider's knowledge of the airline industry generated respect in Congress, where he regularly testified on safety issues and in support of NextGen.
Babbitt took over at the FAA when the agency was still reeling from the exposure of widespread safety gaps in the regional airline industry. The problems were revealed by a National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the February 2009 crash of a regional airliner near Buffalo, N.Y., that killed 50 people.
Babbitt and LaHood promised to immediately implement a series of safety initiatives. At Babbitt's urging airlines adopted a series of voluntary safety measures, although safety advocates say voluntary measures aren't enough. The FAA under Babbitt has also initiated several efforts to craft major new safety regulations, ranging from preventing pilot fatigue to boosting experience levels and training of airline pilots.
But Babbitt has struggled to realize several of those safety proposals. Some proposals have stalled as industry opponents lobbied White House officials against the proposed regulations, saying they would cost too much or be too burdensome.
The biggest crisis of Babbitt's FAA tenure occurred last spring over a period of several weeks when nine air traffic controllers were allegedly caught sleeping on the job or were unresponsive to radio calls while on duty. The head of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization was forced to resign during the ensuing uproar.
As the FAA's top official, Babbitt has the final say in disciplinary proceedings involving controllers who violate the agency's drug and alcohol regulations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read more content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- We are the median: Military makes $50,000 feel like more
- A consumer's tale of a credit report 'Catch 22'
- Sandusky's dinner with alleged victims raises questions
- We are the median: Living on $50,000 a year
- Kids pay biggest price for world's gold craving
- Crashed drone puts US secrets at risk
Leave a Comment:
Well, he did the right thing there.
No wonder there's a been a lotta drunk flying lately....too bad no cops up there for tickets....
Was flying to Dallas from Jersey a couple of months ago, could have sworn flew by Houston when I looked outside....either the pilot was drunk or I had one too many moonshines myself...lol
I agree, he handled himself very well in light of poor choices.
"Police said that Babbitt wasn't involved in an accident and that he cooperated with police."
Yea, we certainly want to keep the bar reachable. He's on the path to catching Drew Double Drunk Driving Lewis - another transportation embarrassment.
I have somewhat mixed feelings on this. Not to say that DUI is not a serious problem, but he was one of the few in the Obama administration that was actually doing a decent job in his position and it is a shame to lose him. The average person would not likely lose their job over something like this, but since Babbitt is a public figure he is toast. No doubt he made a serious mistake, but should it have cost him his job when it was not something that affected his job performance??? Babbitt lost his job because his boss LaHood has made DUI reduction a signature part of his reign at DoT, not because it impacted Babbitt's ability to do his job.
DocHolliday,
"too bad no cops up there for tickets...."
Yeah, but if there were cops up there, I'll bet they wouldn't know whether to pull you over or pull you up or pull you down or what. And how would they hand you the ticket? Through a boom like in aerial refueling? And then there's the sobriety test. Would they have the pilot get out and walk on the clouds to see if he can walk straight? :)
Let he among us - hic-up - wishout - hic - sin - hic - cast tha -hic - stirst fone - ugggggggh - blaaa- blooooooooouuuug
Did he? Or was he told to do the right thing. What always alarms me is the poor lady who was taken out of context about not giving white farmers loans because they are white. She was a great lady. She said after the news broke she got a phone call while she was driving, from the Obama administration, and she was told to resign. She said she was driving, and they told her to pull over to the side of the road and call up and resign. She did, and then it came out that this was all taken out of context. Poor lady, what would have happened to her or her family had she said "no". Would they have tried to twist someone else's arm to get her to resign.
JS - I somewhat agree with what you are saying but anyone that is stupid enough to drive while drunk shouldn't be in a leadership position.
What other decisions has he made while under the influence? I don't know but I do know there are msny others out there that can make good decisions that don't lose the public and employee trust.
It's obviously past time for him to move on.
Lol! Too effing funny! +1 for you.
yes, finally someone who takes responsibility for their actions
Well, sir, you made a mistake, owned up to it, and handled it with dignity.
At a time when our government officials seem to have such little respect for themselves, for us, and for their office, I'd like to thank you for setting an example of how to behave like an adult.
Best wishes.
tomorrowsnews - Or perhaps you're a good candidate. Nothing like a little non sequitar hatred ....
Meh - tomorrowsnews is a one-trick pony, and his one trick is really, really stale.
What pisses me off is if your a good law abiding citizen and make one mistake that the majority of people who do drink end up driving, your a freakin criminal, passed murderer... Its like cmon most people have drank and drove before atleast once and never caught. MADD has seriously corrupted the law by making it a nightmare to hold down a job or em-better yourself if you only have 1 stupid dui. Its like people make mistakes give them a break for god sakes. SO do some punishment some AA meetings and get on with life why does it have to be 10 yrs on your record! When everyone else before the law passed it was only on there for a few yrs maybe 2.
What's happening in this crazy world.
Is the word Responsible in the vocabulary and being used anymore?---
Babbitt: Wow!---another big Ego hungry person, who thinks they are above the Law. He did not "Resign"; he was FIRED!!! Oh, if they would only tell the truth as well.
He must be an Alcoholic, that never got caught until now--or did they cover his past over, too.
Yes and only if the words "I am not" or "someone else is" precede it.
.
If the Presidents, senators etc can have a DUI, why not an Administrator?
Getting to the point they can't. They are elected officials and it becomes more complex to replace them. Either the governor has to appoint replacement or someone has to be elected.
The President does not drive. Do you mean George Bush before he was elected governor of Texas. Be clear.
JohnK1960,
what president had a dui while president??
Oh, I forgot, another drunken Kennedy that was a Senator and committed murder and got away with it??
I knew it was only a matter of time til a right-winger brought up Chappaquiddick. It's stored in the hip-front pocket and can be quickly drawn for combat with any mention of Kennedy, DUI, or criminal activity by a Republican.
The man made a huge mistake, he's dead, and no one cares anymore. He didn't murder anyone. Gross negligence, DUI, and manslaughter I'll give you.
The majority of people who are higher up have had DUIs in fact multiple was common. DUI laws were not strict back then. Now they are outrageous! If you make a mistake fine your only human i understand but 2 or more is bad obviously. MADD those hypocrites, who i mind you the president of MADD has received a DUI before has made it a nightmare if you make 1 lousy mistake. No one is perfect. How about for every person who is caught drinking and driving gets lynched. I guarantee you the American population would plummet to more then 50 percent everyone drinks and drives... At least once, not saying thats good just saying no one is perfect... READ THIS DAMN IT!!
Driving down the wrong side of the road, obviously he was all drunked up, dangerous, and he did the right thing. On the other hand, had he simply been charged with exceeding 0.08% and was otherwise driving normally, then he should not have resigned. The point-8 level is BS adopted for the sole purpose of increasing revenues, and to pacify the Women's Temperance union, or MADD, or whatever these mean-spirited wenches are calling themselves these days.
Come back after you've lost a loved one to someone whose BAL was "only" .08% and then we'll see who the "mean-spirited wenches" are. BTW: many members of MADD (and similar organizations) are males.
Point-8 is BS? Tell ya what genius, talk to me after you've buried your child who was t-boned by a 7-time offender of DUI/DWI. As a firefighter/first-responder I've had the sad task up picking up the pieces (body parts) of those killed by idiots who think "Point-8" is BS. And this clown? Driving down the wrong side of the road? How differently would this article and the comments be IF someone else had been on the same road going the opposite direction? It's bad enough people put on makeup, read books, text, play video games, talk on the phone and eat while steering through construction with their knees...and we are to have tolerance for the moron who sees point-8 as BS?? Well sorry we're inconveniencing you... asking you to wait an hour before you knock back your 40... F'n clown!
The founder of MADD wrote a really good article about the .08. She likened it to having a speedlimit of 75mph, with most accidents occurring at the 70mph range. Most people were averaging 65mph when driving. She said it was like reducing the speed limit down to 55mph and catching a bunch of people who wouldn't have caused an accident. Basically she said they made the net so big now, that you can't tell the difference between someone who has 1 drink (2 if you're a bigger person) and get behind the wheel, versus those who are hammered. So it isn't MADD that's the issue, it's going overboard on the laws that is the issue.
JMTX - Very well said. I would like to ad to that, i.e., It is arrogant and irresponsible to text and/or talk on cell phones while operating a motor vehicle. What is so f$&king important that it cannot wait? It is impossible to focus either on what is being said on the f$%king cell phone or, more importantly, what is going on on the highway in front of the automobile one is operating.
In addition, if one is responsible for the death of another individual while operating a vehicle under the influence and, especially, if one is texting or talking on a cell phone - and that, by the way, has been proven to be even more dangerous than driving while under the influence - then I say whatever the freaking message was the idiot was trying to text should be emblazoned across their forehead for the rest of their miserable lives.
You obviously didn't read my post JM - I said that driving down the wrong side of the road was enough evidence that he was drunk. But 0.08 is not. You only make my point for me when you mention the bad things that you have seen, but none of them were only at 0.08, were they? And please do not call me an F'N clown you filthy slut.
the thing that gets me, is the "good" picture the wire services had of Babbitt that got sent yesterday was one of a sick old man with perhaps a little slosh left in the jacket pocket bottle. blotched, grey... should have seen this coming from two mid-air refuelings away.
good luck, seek treatment.
power brokers, really, doesn't anybody get woodshedded any more?
I only hope he's one of many in government to resign. One.....it's a start.
Going from the Federal Aviation Administration to a hall For Alcoholics Anonymous...
Mr. Babbit, very honorable to step up when you make a mistake like this. It's too bad our elected officials don't feel the same sense of honor.
Its a good start.
What a wuss - I'm sure he was presuaded to resign!. One DUI - BFD!
TRolling for Alcoholics, are we???
Maybe it was just one bad decision but unfortunately, it cost him his career. Let's hope he has learned something...
I do not believe his DUI the first I believe should cost him his job. I'm sure many posters have driven under the influence and never caught. I think he has done a great job and that should not be the penalty for the DUI. I'm sure he will have a driver in the future. EVERYONE makes a mistake.
I guess here is as good as any to comment.
As head of the FAA it is his responsibility to set the example for not only his department but all of those impacted by him. Since it is illegal for a pilot, of any level, to be under the influence he failed in his first example but did the right thing in the end.
Good move. However I will bet that he is appointed to another govt job outside the FAA. The ATF leaders in charge of FAST AND FURIOUS ALL got promotions for being implicit in killing the Border Patrol agent.
should fire all Public/City/county/State Employees, start over again with people who wants to work and not be lazy with helping people, got millions of quality over quantity people looking for jobs this days
It seems like anyone that drinks also drives. If you want to stop drunk driving, you'd really have to stop people from drinking.
Paul-498099
Just increase the TAX on alcohol across the board. If a carton of cigarettes cost almost $100 in New York then a six pack should be at least $50.00
Fair is Fair!
Again; do you think the alcohol lobbyists would go for it?
"FAA chief resigns over drunken driving charge" No a "respectful" government official driving drunk; tell me it ain't so Joe.
It was reported that Randy Babbitt got drunk after seeing the file photos of the 84 year old woman who was recently stripped searched at one of our nation's airports. He allegedly said that he needed to get rid of the mental images burned into his mind.
Just another reason to have ignition disabling breathalyzers installed as a standard "life saving" device in every "new vehicle".
Do you think the alcohol lobbyists would go for it?
So if this idiot resigned then every politician that has done the same or even worse, like rip off the citizens of the United States, must resign now!! People in positions of public responsibility must be held to a very high level of conduct. If they are unable to do so then they are fired!
Now if we can get Halder and the idiot in the white house to resign too, america would be so much better off. Obama is hard to look at anymore..I keep seeing bonzo and reagan.. saying, no no no more bananna's for you
Get used to it, moron, he’ll be around for another term. Besides, President Obama is light years ahead of your last bozos, the Bush & the Dick. Look at what those freeloading idiots did to our country. Obama was left with on heck of a mess to clean up and IS doing so, despite a useless congress full of republiCons.
The repubs have turned the race for the presidency into a marketing gimmick for halfwits - they’re using it to sell books, pad their shtick for the talk show circuit and maybe even, reserve a spot at the top of their steaming dung heap as a commentator for Fox.
At least Cheney will shoot someone himself & not let the Mexicans do his dirty work.
This "heck of a mess to clean up" started in the 1930's. Obama had two years of a Democratic Congress & couldn't get anything done except through closed-door sessions (transparency, anyone?) & by executive order. Government over the people, against the people, despite the people. My apologies, Mr. Lincoln.
People in glass houses should not throw stones. Your lord & savior Obama has many flaws as well. As far as commentators go, MSNBC has their share of winners. Ed (Irrelevant) Schultz, suspended from his show...but no one noticed; "Reverend" Al Sharpton, as much of a racist as Louis Farrakhan; Lawrence (Who?) O'Donnell; Chris Matthews, who has at least stopped genuflecting when referencing Obama but still delivers his spittle-soaked rants (maybe the show should be called "Spitball" instead of "Hardball"?). And these are the people I like to watch.
You can lead a liberal to knowledge but you can't make them think.
The unions are crying rivers of tears now that the former head of the largest pilot union, ALPA, isn't directing FAA regulatory responsibilities.
Let's see what union stooge Obumbo sticks in there now...
As a retired, (half pay for life after 25 years service) ATC Supervisor, you're one of the biggest beneficiaries of union action; extending to the days of PATCO. At the time there were legion TSs who silently cheered worker accomplishments because they were in line to reap an additional $5000 per year over the seven controllers they supervised and I'll bet my ass in your most solitary moments you were pumping pompoms.
The contempt you hold for controllers is exceeded only by that for the guy who signs your retirement check, and you're the poster boy for why I 'was one in '81'.
@ cheet,
As you were in '81, you're wrong in most of your thinking. PATCO didn't do sh*t for me other than cost me some of the best colleagues a guy could ask for. You drank the coldest of cool-aids then and haven't come to terms with it even yet...I hated the leadership then, and always will. But, you’re right I was a TS…and saved four of my nine guys, who all thank me to this day for pulling them back.
I didn’t retire after 25, I retired after 33 and the early retirement option didn’t affect me one bit. As for salary increases, the only salary negotiations that PATCO ever tried got thousands fired. The carrot was 10 grand for you; the true underlying cause was big union manipulation of the guy working the position to force their way into the federal sector...and you know it.
I went down the PATCO road early on...sick-outs, grievances, rabble-rousing, etc, but soon saw the sham of their power grab, thinking that had themselves above the law and people who were paying their salaries, as well as being nothing more than swill and poster boys for the AFL-CIO.
The union leadership pukes were then and are today in it for an ego-ridden power trip, just like they were leading up to the strike. Great job, pay, bennies, working conditions, security...and they think they deserve more...what a f*cking joke. Babbitt was nothing more than a union mouth piece. The kind Obumo love to curry for the return of huge union contributions...that's why I couldn't stand him.
Sorry you couldn't see how you were being manipulated, used and tossed aside when the strike failed, but you took the same loyalty oath we all did. The difference was some others and I took it seriously.
Setting a excellent personal example. Babbitt for President!
He helped with flight safety but became a rather dangerous road hazard on the ground! That bites!
Man your INSANE. I work for the FAA. We are having record Operational Errors while working the lowest number of flights in years. We have no standards within the Agency and the Union is running amuck. I shutter at the thought of putting my family on a flight. Why don't you visit an Enroute Facility and watch these "professionals" at work. What a JOKE!!!!!!
Yeah, I'll bet you're like the rest of the people I know in the FAA. Cry a river about how the unions are wrecking America but have the union rep on speed dial in case you don't get what you want.
No Sweat, he'll retire on millions anyhow. If he cannot live on that then yes i will shed some tears just to show my concern.
Millions? Are you under the impression that the Koch brothers are now funding Civil Service pensions?
although babbitt was wrong in his behavior, i do not think he should be removed if his behavior was otherwise sound and he agreed to treatment. lahood would say anything that was politically correct, is not a leader and does not set a good example.
Again, he wasn't flying a plane at the time so what's the big deal. What an Occupy group we'd have if every DWI/DUI driver gave up his job!
WikiOrgCharts.com/orgchart/urecord/companyid_6922555 has a an org chart for the FAA
It shows the new org for the Federal Aviation Administration after Randy Babbit resigned for drunk driving.
Democrats QUIT when they do wrong; Republicans either deny they did wrong, or try to justify it.
i didnt see Clinton QUIT your an idiot with that comment
Everything about Omamba is wrong and he has yet to quit, still hoping though!
Did Ted Kennedy quit when he........you know the rest.
And Teddy ended up killing Mary Jo. However, the swim helped him to sober up. What a worthless POS he was .
Sad end to an interesting career. Get some professional help with the drinking problem Randy.