A 39-year-old air traffic controller, Damon Marsalis Gaines, from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was arrested and charged with assault and battery following an incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday night. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed the charges in a statement to CNN, stating that Gaines is currently on administrative leave pending further investigation by the FAA. CNN has attempted to contact Gaines for a response, but it is unknown if he has legal representation at this time.
This arrest adds to the recent controversies surrounding the airport, including a mid-air collision between a military helicopter and a passenger plane in January. Just after the arrest, another alarming incident occurred when military jets heading to Arlington National Cemetery triggered a collision alarm on a Delta Air Lines plane during takeoff.
