Owensboro native J. Todd Inman, now serving as the lead spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), opened up about the emotional toll of last week’s deadly mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., describing it as one of the most difficult experiences of his life.
“This has probably been one of the toughest things I’ve ever faced in my life,” Inman said. “But that pales in comparison to what the victims’ families are dealing with.”
Inman, who was appointed to the NTSB last year, has been on the front lines of the investigation into the collision between a passenger jet and a helicopter that claimed 67 lives. In the days since, he has met with victims’ families, offering updates on the investigation and answering their questions.
“They’re still dealing with just being so shocked with losing their loved ones,” Inman said. “It’s not something you see in the press nor something we report on out of respect of their loss.”
Inman lives less than a mile from the airport where the crash occurred and was on the scene within the first hour as emergency crews searched for survivors.
“To see the deceased being brought out firsthand on that dark, cold night will stay with me for the rest of my life,” Inman said. “But my sorrow pales in comparison to what those families are dealing with.”
Inman emphasized that the NTSB’s top priority remains determining the cause of the crash and ensuring such tragedies are prevented in the future.
“We will find out what caused this and do everything we can to prevent it from happening again,” he said.
During a press conference at Reagan National Airport, Inman told reporters that investigators are still gathering information and have yet to review reports regarding air traffic controller staffing at the time of the collision.
“Our investigators are continuing to pull all that information – their personnel records, their files, where they were, whether they were fatigued,” Inman said. “All that information will be part of that investigative process. But right now, we can’t speculate on anything that may have been reported in the media until we get the opportunity to validate and understand how it impacts the investigation.”
Inman, who served as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation under Secretary Elaine Chao, has deep ties to Owensboro. He lived there for 17 years, working as a State Farm insurance agent and serving on the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport board.
“I was born in Calvert City, Ky., a town of 3,000 people, and had the pleasure of living in Owensboro for 17 years,” Inman said. “In fact, Mayor Watson has occasionally sent me care packages to D.C. with Swedish Match products, which I still enjoy to this day. I hope he hasn’t lost my address as it’s been a tough week.”
Inman reflected on his unexpected journey from serving on a local airport board to leading the investigation into the largest aviation accident in the U.S. in two decades.
“I never would have imagined back then that twenty years later I would be the lead board member for the largest aviation accident in the United States in the past two decades,” he said.
Inman said his thoughts remain with the families affected by the tragedy.
“Some of my closest friends still live in Owensboro, and I can only hope that my time at the NTSB will help make sure none of them — or anyone for that matter — ever have to experience the same grief the families of the 67 victims are suffering now,” Inman said. “I pray for the families who lost, and hope those in Owensboro can do the same.”
The NTSB investigation remains ongoing, with officials promising to release verified findings as they become available.
