FAA Criticized for Failing to Address Safety Warnings After 2025 Midair Crash

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board has criticized the Federal Aviation Administration for providing inadequate responses to 11 of 33 safety recommendations following a deadly 2025 midair collision near Washington, D.C., which claimed 67 lives.

The incident, which took place in January 2025, involved an American Airlines regional jet colliding with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, marking the worst U.S. aviation disaster in over two decades.

The NTSB emphasized that the FAA did not commit to implementing ADS-B In technology, a key safety measure recommended by the board. This system could have alerted the jet pilot 59 seconds before the crash and the helicopter crew 48 seconds prior. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy expressed frustration, asking how many more tragedies must occur before action is taken. She plans to push Congress to address the root causes of the accident alongside family members of the victims.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford previously stated that while the agency can enforce ADS-B regulations independently, it prefers legislative guidance. A recent letter from the FAA outlined progress on helicopter route assessments in four cities, ongoing reviews in six others, and new rules requiring physical separation between aircraft and helicopters. However, the NTSB noted no indication the agency intends to mandate ADS-B In in the future.

A 2025 NTSB investigation found systemic FAA failures contributed to the crash, including regulatory decisions that allowed helicopters to operate near the airport without proper separation safeguards. While the House passed a broad aviation safety bill in April, and the Senate approved the ROTOR Act in December, neither measure secured enough support to pass under expedited rules.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)