FAA puts several Alaska employees on administrative leave; investigation for misconduct

By THE ALASKA STORY

June 26, 2026 – The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed that several Alaska Flight Service Station employees have been placed on administrative leave as part of an internal misconduct investigation, shedding light on a series of station closures that have disrupted aviation services across rural Alaska for weeks.

In a statement provided to the Nome Nugget, the FAA said it is coordinating with the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General as it investigates allegations of employee misconduct. The agency released few details about the nature of the allegations but said the action was taken “to protect taxpayer money and the integrity of the FAA.”

The affected Flight Service Stations are located in Nome, Kotzebue, Utqiagvik (Barrow), Northway, Deadhorse, Palmer, and Talkeetna.

Although local offices have been closed or left without their regular staffing, the FAA said essential aviation services remain available through other stations.

“All impacted stations will continue to be available including flight plan management, preflight briefings, in-flight support, emergency services, navigation aid monitoring, and communication support,” the agency said in a statement to the newspaper.

Under the temporary consolidation plan, the Fairbanks Flight Service Station is handling operations for Deadhorse, Utqiagvik, Northway, Nome, and Kotzebue, while the Kenai Flight Service Station has assumed responsibility for Palmer and Talkeetna.

The FAA also said it will continue monitoring operations and provide additional support if needed. Most weather observation equipment at the affected airports is operated by the National Weather Service, but if weather reporting is interrupted, the FAA said it will assist in restoring service or provide personnel to conduct weather observations.

The announcement answers weeks of speculation surrounding the closures, which began earlier this month. A Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) issued on June 5 alerted pilots that Flight Service operations had been suspended at several locations.

The closures have had real-world consequences for aviation across western Alaska.

Earlier this month, Alaska Airlines canceled several passenger and cargo flights serving Nome and Kotzebue after weather reporting equipment failed to provide required visibility observations while local Flight Service personnel were unavailable.

The Alaska Air Carriers Association also warned Alaska’s congressional delegation that shifting responsibilities to Fairbanks has strained the system, creating longer wait times and reducing access to pilots’ local weather expertise and operational knowledge. The association expressed concerns that the loss of local specialists could affect instrument flight operations, runway condition reporting, traffic advisories, and even search-and-rescue efforts in some of Alaska’s most challenging flying environments.

Many Alaska communities depend almost entirely on air transportation for passengers, mail, groceries, medical travel, and cargo. Aviation experts have long argued that local Flight Service specialists provide knowledge that cannot easily be replicated from hundreds of miles away, particularly in remote regions where rapidly changing weather and unique terrain play an outsized role in flight safety.

The FAA has not disclosed how many employees have been placed on administrative leave, the specific allegations under investigation, or when—or if—the affected Flight Service Stations will reopen with local staffing.

Alaska’s congressional delegation has requested additional information from the FAA regarding the investigation, operational impacts, and a timeline for restoring normal Flight Service operations.

For now, the investigation remains active, and the FAA says it will continue operating Alaska’s Flight Service network through consolidated staffing while the Office of Inspector General reviews the allegations.