Airline pilots flying into Washington, D.C., have reported nearly a dozen near misses that were scarily similar to this week’s midair collision that killed 67 people.

Internal government reports and public databases highlight several instances in which planes narrowly escaped collisions with each other or helicopters.

Less than 10% of the nation's airport terminal towers have enough air traffic controllers to meet a set of standards set by a working group that included the FAA and the controllers' union.

The National Transportation Safety Board has interviewed the air-traffic controller who was working at the time of the midair collision, board member Todd Inman said, adding that the interviews have been ongoing throughout the day.