The FAA confirmed that an employee misconduct investigation is behind the temporary closure of seven Alaska Flight Service Stations, according to the Nome Nugget.
The agency said several Flight Service employees have been placed on administrative leave while it works with the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. The FAA did not describe the nature of the allegations or how many employees are involved, saying only that it is taking the matter seriously to protect taxpayer funds and maintain the integrity of its operations.
The affected stations include Nome, Kotzebue, Utqiagvik (Barrow), Northway, Deadhorse, Palmer, and Talkeetna. Flight Service duties have been shifted to Fairbanks and Kenai, where specialists are now handling flight planning, weather briefings, in-flight assistance, emergency coordination, and communications support while the local facilities remain closed.
The disruption has already affected flight operations in parts of western Alaska. Earlier this month, Alaska Airlines canceled passenger and cargo service to Nome and Kotzebue after weather reporting systems failed to provide required visibility data while Flight Service personnel were unavailable to supplement observations.
Industry groups have also voiced concern about the consolidation. The Alaska Air Carriers Association warned that shifting responsibilities to larger hub facilities reduces access to local expertise that pilots rely on for weather interpretation and operational decision-making in Alaska’s complex flying environment.
The FAA noted that most automated weather observing systems at the affected airports are operated by the National Weather Service. When those systems are unable to provide required observations, the agency said it can assist in restoring service or deploy qualified personnel to conduct weather observations until normal operations resume.
The agency has not provided a timeline for reopening the affected stations or completing the investigation.
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