Pilots meowing, barking on air traffic radio at DC airport goes viral as FAA launches probe

WASHINGTON, DC: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation after a recording of pilots making animal noises on air traffic control radio went viral.

The pilots were caught meowing and barking over an air traffic control frequency near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Sunday, April 12, inviting the controller’s reprimand and prompting an FAA probe.

Audio of exchange between traffic controller and pilots goes viral

The exchange in which the controller is heard scolding the duo who reportedly made the animal noises for nearly five minutes has gone viral. The pilots are heard meowing and barking while communicating over the shared radio channel used by multiple aircraft in the vicinity.

The incident reportedly occurred on an ATC frequency, which serves busy airports outside Washington, DC.

In the viral audio, the controller is heard scolding pilots, “You guys, uh, need to be professional pilots.” The pilots  took no heed and doubled down, making animal sounds.

“Meow meow meow meow," one of the pilots replied.

“Ruff! Ro-ro-ro-ro-ro!" the other responded.

As pilots continued meowing and barking, the air controller quipped, saying, “This is why you still fly an RJ (regional jet).”

Pilots usually fly regional jets in the early years of their career. However, it is not clear if the pilots were flying passenger jets at the time of the exchange.

“It was funny for the first five minutes”, he added, before the clip ends.

FAA launches probe

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that it will launch an investigation into the matter. The agency said that regulations prohibit pilots from engaging in non-essential conversation below 10,000 feet, making the use of frequency essentially for the safe operation of the aircraft.

They told NBC News: “FAA regulations prohibit pilots from engaging in non-essential conversations when they’re below 10,000 feet altitude. Conversations must be related to the safe operation of the aircraft. The FAA investigates all situations where pilots may have violated any regulation.”

The incident was recorded near the fateful Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where a mid-air plane collision left 67 dead.

The incident occurred in January last year, when an American Airlines plane erupted into flames and fell in three pieces into the Potomac River after being struck by a US Army black hawk helicopter.

No one on board the plane survived the tragic accident, making it the deadliest US air crash in over 20 years.