NTSB Member Todd Inman, On‑Scene at D.C. Midair Crash, Says White House Fired Him

Lead

Todd Inman, a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member who served as the agency’s initial on‑scene spokesman after the deadly January midair collision over Washington, D.C., has abruptly left the board. Inman said on March 8, 2026, that the White House Presidential Personnel Office terminated his appointment two years into a standard five‑year term. Inman, who was appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate in March 2024, said he has not been given a reason for the dismissal. The NTSB directed questions to the White House, which had not provided a public comment by the time of reporting.

Key Takeaways

• Todd Inman, an NTSB board member, announced his departure on March 8, 2026, saying the White House fired him through the Presidential Personnel Office.
• Inman was confirmed by the Senate in March 2024 and left two years into a five‑year term.
• He was the initial on‑scene NTSB spokesman after the January 2026 midair collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people aboard a regional American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter.
• Inman said he has not been given an explanation for the termination; the NTSB referred media inquiries to the White House.
• The departure follows a May 2025 firing of another Biden‑appointed board member, Alvin Brown; John Deleeuw was later confirmed by the Senate on Feb. 25 as Brown’s replacement.
• The NTSB is a five‑member independent investigatory board that issues probable causes and safety recommendations but does not have regulatory authority.

Background

The NTSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating transportation disasters and issuing safety recommendations to prevent recurrence. Its five board members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate for staggered five‑year terms; the board determines probable causes but lacks rule‑making power. Membership changes are infrequent, and dismissals of confirmed members draw attention because they can affect continuity in high‑profile probes.

Todd Inman served previously in the Department of Transportation during President Trump’s first term before being nominated by President Biden and confirmed in March 2024. He was the NTSB member on scene after the January 2026 collision off the Washington, D.C., flight path, and he spoke publicly about the crash and his impressions from the debris field. That incident — a collision between a regional American Airlines flight and a U.S. military Black Hawk — resulted in 67 fatalities and triggered a multiagency investigation.

Main Event

On March 8, 2026, Inman issued a statement saying the White House Presidential Personnel Office had terminated his appointment on behalf of President Trump. He told reporters he has not been provided any reason for the action. The NTSB, when asked about the departure, directed media to the White House; the White House had not issued a public statement to reporters by the time of publication.

Inman had been the visible NTSB figure immediately after the January crash, delivering preliminary public remarks and later describing the human toll he witnessed. In a prior interview about the accident scene he said seeing bodies in the debris field underscored the stakes of transportation safety and the NTSB mission. His departure comes days after the NTSB added a fifth board member, creating a full quorum in a period of active, high‑profile investigations.

The timing also echoes an earlier personnel move: in May 2025 the Trump administration removed Alvin Brown, another Biden‑appointed NTSB member. Brown and Inman had been sworn onto the board in 2024; Brown was later replaced by John Deleeuw following a Senate confirmation on Feb. 25. The series of personnel changes has raised questions among observers about turnover at the agency during major probes.

Analysis & Implications

Board continuity matters for complex investigations. The NTSB’s role is to establish probable cause and recommend safety changes; disruptions in membership can complicate deliberations and the institutional memory needed for multi‑year inquiries. Investigations tied to major accidents often require sustained technical oversight, legal coordination and engagement with victims’ families, all of which benefit from stable board composition.

The use of the Presidential Personnel Office to remove a confirmed board member is notable because NTSB members normally serve fixed terms unless they resign or are otherwise disqualified. The absence of a publicly stated reason for Inman’s termination increases scrutiny and invites questions about whether the move is administrative, political, or related to internal agency dynamics. Without official explanations, stakeholders — from Congress to aviation safety groups — are likely to press for clarity.

Politically, personnel actions at independent agencies can be sensitive. The NTSB operates across administrations and investigates incidents that involve commercial carriers, military assets and the traveling public. Sudden personnel shifts during active probes can feed perceptions of politicization, even if they stem from standard personnel decisions. For the affected families and first responders, continuity of expertise and consistent communication from the investigating body is a practical concern.

Comparison & Data

The table above summarizes recent confirmed departures and shows an unusual cadence of removals for a small, five‑member board. Those changes occur against the backdrop of one of the largest aviation incidents in two decades and highlight how personnel shifts can intersect with ongoing investigations and safety recommendations.

Reactions & Quotes

Inman provided a brief statement describing his departure and his service on the board, emphasizing the toll of investigating major accidents and his lack of an explanation for the firing.

“To date, I have not received any reason for this termination.”

Todd Inman (statement to CBS News, March 8, 2026)

Speaking earlier about the January crash scene, Inman conveyed the emotional weight investigators face when confronting mass‑fatality events.

“When you look over and see those bodies laying, that’s someone’s family, it could be yours.”

Todd Inman (on‑scene interview, CBS News)

The NTSB has not issued a public rationale and referred questions to the White House. Media outlets report The Air Current first published word of Inman’s departure; CBS News reported Inman’s statement and that the administration had not yet commented.

Unconfirmed

• No publicly released justification has been provided for Inman’s termination; the motive remains unconfirmed.
• There is no confirmed link between the firing and Inman’s public comments about the January crash; any political or procedural connection has not been verified.
• Internal NTSB deliberations or personnel files that might explain the removal have not been disclosed.

Bottom Line

Todd Inman’s abrupt departure from the NTSB while a major midair collision investigation is ongoing raises questions about board continuity and transparency. The NTSB’s investigatory work depends on sustained technical engagement; sudden membership changes can complicate that process and draw scrutiny from families, industry groups and lawmakers.

Key follow‑ups to watch: whether the White House provides an explanation for the dismissal, how the NTSB manages continuity on the January 2026 investigation, and whether Congress or oversight bodies seek briefings on the personnel decision. For the traveling public and families affected by the crash, timely, transparent investigation outcomes and clear safety recommendations remain the principal priorities.

Sources

• CBS News — media report and Inman statements (journalism)
• The Air Current — aviation news outlet that first reported the departure (media)
• NTSB — official agency information on board and investigations (official)
• White House Presidential Personnel Office — office handling executive branch appointments (official)