US Democratic senators propose sweeping air safety reforms after fatal collision [View all]
Source: Reuters
June 5, 2025 8:02 PM EDT Updated 11 hours ago
WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - A group of seven Democratic senators on Thursday introduced sweeping air safety legislation after a fatal collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines (AAL.O) regional jet in January near Reagan Washington National Airport killed 67 people.
Lawmakers have questioned why the Federal Aviation Administration failed to act for years to address close calls involving helicopters near Reagan. The legislation would require a review of helicopter and passenger operations at major airports, mandate new FAA safety reviews after fatal passenger airline accidents and require the use of ADS-B, an advanced aircraft-tracking technology.
The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz, a Republican, has held a series of aviation hearings and called for action by the FAA and the Army to reduce the risks of collisions. Cruz did not respond immediately to a request for comment on whether he supported the Democratic proposal.
Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee that oversees the FAA, said the collision "exposed critical gaps in aviation safety oversight." She said the legislation "closes dangerous loopholes that allowed aircraft to operate without essential safety technology, mandates modern surveillance systems that enhance pilot awareness of nearby aircraft, and ensures the FAA finally acts on the data instead of ignoring it."
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-senators-propose-sweeping-faa-air-safety-reforms-after-fatal-collision-2025-06-05/
Link to Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Democrats' PRESS RELEASE - In Wake of DCA Collision Tragedy, Senators Cantwell, Duckworth, Klobuchar, Warnock, Kaine, Warner and Markey Introduce the Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025
Link to "section by section" bill SUMMARY (PDF) - https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/8ED853E3-C727-4C8A-B1EC-CD331F7FE4B8
Link to BILL (PDF) - https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/BFFC0325-0828-45C3-B121-3D35F326A92E
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