FAA Posts Recruitment Link After Elon Musk Calls on Retired Air Traffic Controllers to Come Back to Work

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) posted on Thursday a recruitment link for potential air traffic controllers as safety in the skies dominates headlines following a series of high-profile crashes in the country.

"Join our team to become an entry-level air traffic controller and help shape the future of aviation! Discover if you meet the qualifications through our merit-based hiring process, ensuring safety and efficiency of our nation's airspace. Apply now through March 17!" reads the publication by the agency.

The initiative also follows a publication by billionaire and top government aide Elon Musk, who said earlier in the day that there is a "shortage of top notch air traffic controllers." "If you have retired, but are open to returning to work, please consider doing so," Musk added.

Recent reports have highlighted the lack of air controllers, with CNN detailing that the system has been "stretched nearly to its breaking point by a decades-long staffing shortage." The outlet added that the situation likely won't get better soon, as new hires barely replace those who are leaving either due to retirement or the heavy toll the stressful job takes on them.

The outlet quoted Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which represents over 10,000 certified controllers across the country. Concretely, he said that even with an increase in the pace of hiring it could take almost a decade to reach full staffing.

Recent crashes include one between a passenger jet and an army helicopter, a plane that flipped over after landing, and a plane that went down in Alaska. The most recent one took place on February 19 when two people have died following a mid-air collision involving two planes at Marana Regional Airport in Arizona.