Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport Leads U.S. in Safety Incidents, FAA Modifies Operations

Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) in Colorado has been identified by a June 2025 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) memo as having the highest number of "Potentially Significant Events" (PSEs) in the nation, a category that includes runway incursions and airborne safety incidents. This finding has raised alarm among local officials and residents, especially following two fatal crashes near the airport in recent years, including one in May 2025 involving a plane whose door popped open after takeoff. The FAA attributed the spike in incidents partly to increased air traffic at RMMA, which is one of the busiest airports in the state and home to four flight schools. In response, the FAA implemented operational changes in June 2025, introducing structured traffic flows to improve safety and efficiency, although these changes primarily affect smaller aircraft operations. Despite the FAA's efforts, local officials continue to express concerns about safety and noise, with the Town of Superior pursuing legal action over noise issues related to the airport. Airport representatives have emphasized that routing decisions are controlled by the FAA and that safety improvements remain a top priority.