NASA Administrator feared data would upset travelers, hurt airline profits

Abandoning its secrecy claims, NASA promised Congress on Wednesday it will reveal results of an unprecedented federal aviation survey which found that aircraft near collisions, runway interference and other safety problems occur far more often than previously recognized.

Provoking broad criticism, NASA had said previously it was withholding the information because it feared it would upset air travelers and hurt airline profits. NASA cited those reasons in refusing to turn over the survey data to The Associated Press, which sought the information over 14 months under the Freedom of Information Act.

“I regret any impression that NASA was or would in any way try to put commercial interests ahead of public safety,” NASA’s administrator, Michael Griffin, testified during an oversight hearing.
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