House Panels Back Major Flight Safety Changes After Deadly DC Crash

Two House committees have unanimously approved comprehensive aviation safety legislation following a fatal January collision near Washington DC that claimed 67 lives. The measures would mandate new collision-prevention technology on military and civilian aircraft by 2031.

WASHINGTON – Congressional committees have given unanimous backing to comprehensive flight safety legislation designed to prevent tragedies like the deadly January aircraft collision that claimed 67 lives near the nation’s capital.

The House Armed Services Committee passed measures 53-0 mandating that collision-prevention equipment be installed on all military aircraft by 2031, with exceptions only for fighter jets, bombers and unmanned drones.

In a separate 62-0 vote, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced requirements for collision-avoidance systems on both planes and helicopters. The proposal also tackles problems within the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety protocols, improves air traffic controller training methods, and bolsters security measures around Reagan Washington National Airport, the site of the fatal mid-air crash between an American Airlines regional aircraft and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.

The National Transportation Safety Board praised the legislation, known as the ALERT Act, saying it fulfills all 50 safety recommendations the agency issued following the collision. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy described the congressional action as unprecedented, marking the first instance where House committees have endorsed legislation addressing every recommendation from the safety board after a major aviation accident.

The proposed law would mandate implementation of ADS-B safety technology by 2031’s end. Additionally, it calls for examining flight volumes at Reagan National – home to the country’s most congested single runway – to assess whether current traffic levels exceed capacity.

Last month, the House rejected different aviation legislation after the Pentagon pulled its endorsement, despite appeals from lawmakers and families of those who died in the American Airlines crash, which represents the nation’s most devastating aviation incident since 2001.

The earlier ROTOR Act had received unanimous Senate approval in December. However, under expedited legislative procedures requiring a two-thirds House majority, the measure failed by a single vote.

Should the House approve the ALERT Act, both chambers would need to reconcile differences between their respective bills before any final legislation could reach the president’s desk.