Engineers say FAA rushed plane approval

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. aviation engineers say they were improperly pressured to sign off on a new type of aircraft before all safety questions were answered.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union representing Federal Aviation Administration engineers, has filed a grievance against the agency, alleging administrators wanted to rush the safety certification of the new lightweight Eclipse 500 jet, ABC News reported Sunday.

The network said FAA officials defended themselves Friday, saying a review panel found the certification was not rushed.

"Our conclusion is the airplane was safe and certified properly," said former Boeing executive Jerry Mack, head of the review panel.

U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Transportation Committee, has scheduled hearings to air the issue, ABC News reported.