Senator Chuck Schumer says the FAA's enforcement of airline safety is seriously lacking.
Schumer says a review of FAA data since 2014 indicates a steady decline in safety enforcement and he says he's calling on the FAA to take a more proactive role in ensuring the safety of the skies.
He said the FAA went from filing 105 safety enforcement actions for airline maintenance in 2015 to 28 in 2017.
Schumer's comments come on the heels of the Southwest Airlines tragedy that claimed the life of a passenger and the recent East River helicopter crash that left five people dead.
The FAA says its oversight system is designed to identify potential risks before they become serious problems, adding "The FAA and airlines it oversees constantly strive towards safety."