US FAA's top safety official stepping down effective June 30

The FAA's top safety official said Wednesday he will step down effective June 30. Ali Bahrami, the FAA’s associate administrator for aviation safety since July 2017, had faced criticism from some U.S. lawmakers and family members of those killed in two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes that led to the plane's 20-month grounding, which was lifted in November. Officials said it was Bahrami's decision to leave the agency. The FAA said it will begin an immediate search for a successor. Deputy Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Chris Rocheleau, a longtime FAA employee, will serve as interim head of the Office of Aviation Safety. "This was not an easy decision," Bahrami, who worked at the FAA in various positions for 30 years, told staff in an email. "I’ve been blessed with an incredible career, and now it’s time for me to spend more time with my family and focus on my next chapter."<br/>