Full-scale disaster drill tests LR airport's emergency preparedness

KUAR | By Nathan Treece

A simulated disaster at Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport on Tuesday tested the effectiveness of emergency responders and administrators.

The scenario: a flock of ducks are sucked into an engine during takeoff, and the plane is forced to make an emergency landing – except, the landing gear doesn’t deploy, leading to a crash.

The airport’s public information officer Shane Carter says the simulation tests the coordination of multiple agencies.

Full-scale disaster drill tests LR airport's emergency preparedness

Nathan Treece/Little Rock Public Radio

Emergency responders test their skills during a simulated disaster at the Clinton National Airport in Little Rock on April 15, 2025.

Steven Baker named executive director of Clinton National Airport

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission appointed Steven C. Baker as the new executive director of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT), effective Aug. 6.

The airport commission unanimously approved Baker’s hiring last month, and his contract has been finalized with an annual base salary of $275,000 plus benefits, according to a press release shared Friday (July 12).

Baker succeeds Bryan Malinowski, who was killed by federal ATF agents in a home raid on March 19 in Little Rock.

Steven Baker named executive director of Clinton National Airport

House Judiciary Committee chair calls for investigation into Malinowski raid

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Congressional leaders are calling for more information about an early morning raid which led to the shooting death of former Clinton National Airport Executive Director Bryan Malinowski.

Malinowski was killed in a shootout with federal agents last month. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had attempted to serve a search warrant on Malinowski’s residence, which led to the shooting.

On Monday, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-OH, and the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to ATF Director Steven Dettelbach saying the committee is investigating the raid.

House Judiciary Committee chair calls for investigation into Malinowski raid