Washington, DC, February 21 - A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has introduced comprehensive aviation safety legislation in direct response to a tragic fatal midair collision that claimed 67 lives in January 2025 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The proposed bill, known as the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026, addresses all 50 safety recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board following its year-long investigation into the accident involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. Bipartisan leaders from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Armed Services Committee emphasized that the measure aims to prevent future incidents by tackling systemic issues revealed in the crash.
The ALERT Act focuses on multiple critical areas to strengthen U.S. aviation safety. It mandates requirements for equipping civil fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft with advanced collision mitigation, avoidance, and alerting technologies. The legislation also calls for improved helicopter route design, guidance, and separation standards to reduce risks in shared airspace. Additionally, it seeks to prevent loss-of-separation incidents, enhance air traffic control training and procedures, especially in high-traffic environments, and require a comprehensive independent audit of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) safety culture and management systems.
A key element of the bill targets the congested airspace around Reagan National Airport, one of the nation's busiest and most complex. Provisions include strengthening protections in this high-risk area and addressing military aviation practices that contributed to the incident. The proposal also includes repealing specific provisions from prior defense authorization legislation to better align with civilian safety priorities. Supporters argue that implementing these changes holistically will provide a thorough solution to the factors that led to the disaster.
This aviation safety bill arrives as Congress weighs broader efforts to modernize the nation's airspace system and protect air travelers. With the NTSB's findings highlighting deficiencies in technology, procedures, and oversight, the ALERT Act represents a proactive step toward safer skies. Lawmakers stress that swift enactment could significantly reduce the likelihood of similar tragedies, reinforcing public confidence in commercial and general aviation operations across the United States.
