NTSB Chair Urges Lawmakers to Implement Aviation Safety Recommendations

Chairwoman says mid-air collision near DC could have been prevented if prior warnings were heeded

Feb. 12, 2026 at 11:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, urging lawmakers to quickly implement a series of aviation safety recommendations after investigating last year's mid-air collision near Washington, D.C. Homendy emphasized that the crash could have been prevented if the NTSB's previous warnings about the need for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology had been heeded.

Why it matters

The NTSB has repeatedly recommended the use of ADS-B technology to prevent mid-air collisions, but these recommendations have often been rejected or ignored. The January 2025 crash near DC highlighted the urgent need to implement these safety measures to protect pilots and passengers.

The details

Homendy said the NTSB has issued safety recommendations for ADS-B technology "over and over and over again," but they have been "rejected, sidelined or just plain ignored." She noted that if the Black Hawk and Bombardier CRJ aircraft involved in the 2025 crash had been equipped with ADS-B, the pilots would have been warned of each other's position nearly a minute before impact. Sen. Ted Cruz's ROTOR Act, which implements the ADS-B recommendation, has passed the Senate but remains stalled in the House.

  • The mid-air collision occurred on January 29, 2025 near Washington, D.C.
  • The NTSB issued its final report on the crash and presented its findings to the Senate Commerce Committee on February 13, 2026.

The players

Jennifer Homendy

Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Ted Cruz

Republican Senator from Texas and chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Jerry Moran

Republican Senator from Kansas who urged the House to quickly pass the ROTOR Act.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We should not have to be here. And we wouldn't be if the NTSB warnings had been heeded.”

— Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“Had the Black Hawk and Bombardier CRJ been equipped to receive ADS-B location signals on January 29, 2025, the pilots would have been warned of each other's exact position nearly a minute before impact.”

— Ted Cruz, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“I urge the House not to delay in its passage. The chairman made the point that every day that goes by creates a greater risk for others.”

— Jerry Moran, U.S. Senator (atlantanewsfirst.com)

What’s next

The ROTOR Act, which implements the NTSB's ADS-B recommendation, has passed the Senate but remains stalled in the House of Representatives. Lawmakers are urged to quickly pass the legislation to help prevent future mid-air collisions.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the urgent need for the aviation industry to heed the NTSB's long-standing safety recommendations, particularly around the implementation of ADS-B technology. Failure to act on these warnings puts pilots, passengers, and the public at risk, as this crash could have been prevented if prior NTSB guidance had been followed.