Legislation designed to address safety issues raised by the 2025 midair collision between a commercial airplane and a helicopter has passed out of committee.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved its portion of the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026 that responds to a broad scope of safety issues raised by the National Transportation Safety Bureau’s investigation of crash between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a UH-60 Army Black Hawk helicopter just outside of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport over the Potomac River. The crash killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft including the crew of both the airplane and the helicopter.
Introduced by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), the T&I Committee chair, and Rick Larsen (D-WA), the committee’s ranking member, the legislation requires ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) In to be equipped and operating on virtually all aircraft required to have ADS-B Out; requires commercial airliners to upgrade to the next generation ADS-B In enabled collision avoidance technology; makes updates to helicopter route safety and separation requirements; requires updates to air traffic control training, processes and procedures; requires the FAA to establish a databased for close proximity encounters; and investigates shortcoming in FAA safety culture and data sharing.
“The ALERT Act is a comprehensive package that addresses the probable cause and contributing factors of the tragic crash that occurred in our nation’s capital in 2025, and it addresses all 50 safety recommendations issued by the NTSB after their investigation,” Graves said. “I appreciate the NTSB for working with us to ensure the legislation adequately addresses all of their recommendations that resulted from their thorough investigation of the accident. I look forward to passing the ALERT Act in the House, and then working with the Senate to complete a final bill that addresses the various issues that contributed to this tragic accident.”
The House Armed Services Committee also approved its individual portion of the legislation pertaining to Department of War policies.