Pilots Rebuked for Emitting Animal Noises on Air Traffic Control Channel

Published April 17, 2026

On April 12th, commercial airline pilots came under scrutiny after they transmitted cat meows and dog barks over the air traffic control (ATC) frequency at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Audio recordings obtained from ATC.com documented the unusual sounds, which were soon followed by a voice on the frequency admonishing the pilots, stating, "You guys need to be professional pilots." In response to the reprimand, the pilots continued to produce more meowing and barking noises. The critic further remarked, "This is why you still fly an RJ," referencing regional jets that are generally operated by less experienced pilots early in their careers. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, pilots are forbidden from "engaging in non-essential conversations when they're below 10,000 feet altitude." The FAA has confirmed that it will conduct an investigation into the incident.