The union did not know details of the other positions among the roughly 400 that were cut. Some of the staffers were part of FAA programs supporting other agencies, such as a classified early warning radar system in Hawaii meant to detect incoming cruise missiles that was being worked on with the Defense Department.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian defended the Trump administration's cuts to the FAA, saying they would not impact airline safety after a Delta plane crashed this week.

Staff cuts hit employees who support aviation safety and security operations as the agency is grappling with a series of airplane crashes.