Connecticut Attorney General's Office

Press Release

Attorney General's Statement On U.S. Supreme Court Refusal To Review Defective FAA Flight Paths

January 20, 2010

"I am deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court has declined to review this case, permitting the FAA's failure to follow its own rules and procedures in implementing new potentially damaging flight paths.

"The U.S. Supreme Court is allowing the FAA to fly above the law, unchecked and unfairly routing more large planes over southwestern Connecticut without considering public input or environmental damage to the region.

"We will continue to fight the FAA flight plan in the political forum, if not in the courtroom.

"These new flight paths are based on defective data concerning noise and traffic -- dismissing less damaging alternatives and disregarding the impact on millions of residents in the region.

"Our coalition of local governments and concerned citizens may have exhausted legal remedies, but we must continue the fight for reform to redirect these flight paths -- and compel the FAA to follow the rules going forward. My office will continue to collaborate with concerned citizens and public officials to compel the federal government to follow its own procedures, and rescind these fatally flawed flight paths."