Post-Helene recovery operations present potential risks following 30 close-encounter air accidents during flight.
Multiple close calls in the sky were reported by 30 aircraft last Saturday, as stated by an insider in the federal sector to CNN.
The surge in air travel is part of the wide-ranging humanitarian operation underway in the southeastern United States, impacted by Hurricane Helene in six states, such as North and South Carolina. More than 210 lives were lost during the storm and subsequent fallout.
Various areas remain out of reach by road due to closure of 200+ roads, complicating the delivery of essentials to stricken communities and forcing aid providers to opt for aerial assistance.
Aerial traffic in western North Carolina has experienced a 300% hike over the previous week due to hurricane relief operations, according to Becca Gallas, the director of North Carolina's Department of Aviation, speaking to CNN.
“The response has been remarkable,” Gallas emphasized, “but safety is always our utmost concern.”
In North Carolina, members of the National Guard have been facilitating supply drops and airlifting individuals with their pets to safety.
Many benefactors of the relief efforts from the skies include private pilots.
Gallas highlighted a private Cessna pilot who neglected to extend the plane's landing gear at Hickory, North Carolina, on Wednesday, leading to a temporary airport runway closure and hindering further supply drops.
Asheville Regional Airport was overwhelmed by air traffic on Wednesday, causing the airport authority to close it to incoming private aircraft – except for those involved in hurricane aid – until at least next Thursday.
The Federal Aviation Administration spread the word on X on Friday, urging all aviators to stay informed.
Numerous airports in the disaster area lack air traffic control towers, as warned by the FAA in a statement, and pilots were advised by the FAA to use extra care while flying in the area.
An unspecified number of private pilots have offered their time and aircraft to aid in delivering supplies to areas influenced by the storm, and the FAA has stressed that its goal is to guarantee safety and expedite this vital work.
State aviation authorities have prohibited some private flights from arriving in hard-hit Asheville and have established a hotline for pilots to dial before landing at Asheville Regional Airport.
“Our team is putting in long hours to ensure that all relief flights – whether they are for delivering supplies or search and rescue – are happening efficiently and safely,” airport spokesperson Tina Kinsey told CNN. “The determination displayed here is truly astonishing.”
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg replied to Elon Musk on X late Friday, assuring him, “No one is restricting the airspace, and the FAA doesn't block legitimate rescue and recovery flights."
CNN’s Elizabeth Wolfe and Ashley R. Williams contributed to this article.
In the context of hurricane relief operations, US aviation authorities have urged all aviators to stay informed for safety reasons. Due to the high volume of relief flights, US airports like Asheville Regional have seen a surge in air traffic, causing temporary closures and stricter regulations for private aircraft.
