Two pilots near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were recorded meowing and barking at each other over the radio. An air traffic controller told the pilots to 'be professional'. The recording was newly released.
CBS News posted a clip of the recording on X on Wednesday. The clip received more than 4 million views on X. The post sparked a debate about how serious the pilots' actions were.
You guys need to be professional.
Social media users expressed strong opinions, with one stating that the pilots should be fired for joking around when safety is at stake, especially after recent tragedies. Another user, identifying as a pilot, commented that such behavior is unacceptable and unprofessional. A third user added that the pilots should be fired because people's lives are in their hands.
However, some defended the pilots, with one user noting that making animal noises has been an open secret among commercial pilots for years. Another argued that air traffic control was being sarcastic and that such fun relieves stress. A more lenient view came from a user who said there's no problem as long as nothing bad happened and it's not regular.
This is why you still fly an RJ (regional jet).
This incident gains heightened significance given the recent history of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which was the site of the deadliest plane crash in the US in nearly 25 years. A mid-air collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet in January 2025 left 67 people dead. A year-long investigation by the NTSB determined that a combination of systemic flaws and 'individual errors' contributed to the tragedy.
Among the errors was a lack of warnings issued by air traffic control, and the helicopter pilots having visual separation approval. The accident led to significant reforms to protocols and airspace at the DC airport and other airports. In light of this, the accident arguably casts the recent exchange of animal sounds between pilots in a more serious light.
The identities of the pilots and the air traffic controller, as well as what airlines or companies the pilots involved work for, remain unknown. It is also unclear whether any disciplinary action has been taken against the pilots, the exact date and time when the animal sounds exchange occurred, or if there were any safety incidents or near-misses related to this exchange.