In an exclusive story, British newspaper The Daily Mail obtained 2014 audio of an FAA official, Shelton Snow. He is heard advising minority applicants how to cheat on their federal exams to become an air traffic controller.
Snow, who is black, is a prominent leader in the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees, the Daily Mail reported.
In the audio, which is a phone call three minutes in length, Snow tells minority applicants to check their email for information that will benefit them in the first phase of a new job opportunity. Citing a helpful source in human resources, he says the email contains a screenshot that shows which “icons you should select” on the test.
“Trust and believe that it will be something you will appreciate to the upmost,” he states. “Keep in mind we are trying to maximize your opportunities, and I’m doing the very best that I can with the time that I’m given.”
Washington Times columnist Robert Knight tells AFN this isn’t some florist sharing quiz answers about flower arrangements.
“This isn't merely an inconvenience or even an injustice,” he stresses. “This is a threat to public safety.”
Tragic midair collision raised issue
The issue of the FAA and air traffic safety came to light hours after a deadly midair collision Jan. 29, at Reagan International Airport, claimed 67 lives.
In a press conference, President Trump blamed the midair collision on everything from Joe Biden and the air traffic controllers to the helicopter pilot, but he also blamed the Biden administration's obsession with "diversity." That claim, made without citing any evidence, made Democrats howl in protest since the cause of the crash was under investigation.
In a related interview with Joe Rogan, back in February, DOGE leader Elon Musk said he had learned “really qualified” air traffic controllers have been “pushed out” because of DEI.
“A bunch of really good, talented old white guys were pushed out,” Musk recounted. “So there’s a talent shortage in air traffic control because of DEI and not hiring people on merit.”
Obama wanted to 'widen' hiring
Musk’s claim parallels the Daily Mail story. It recounts Snow’s phone call, made 11 years ago, came at the same time the Obama administration was vowing to “widen” the hiring process at FAA for women and minorities.
To help women and minorities, the difficult aptitude exam with a 90% percent failure rate was redone with lighter, more biographical questions such as, “How would you described your ideal job?” on the new exam.
To take advantage of the hiring opportunity, the National Black Coalition helped its members prepare their job resume with “buzzwords” that would get them noticed by diversity-driven human resources, the Daily Mail reported.
“Merit,” Knight tells AFN, “should be the only criterion that is considered when you're placing air traffic controllers, or pilots, or brain surgeons, or anyone in a position that can involve a life-or-death situation.”
