Lawmakers Pressed on Aviation Safety Reforms After Deadly Midair Collision

Families of 67 victims urge Congress to require advanced aircraft locator systems to prevent future tragedies.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Key senators and families of the 67 people killed when an airliner collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C. last year are pressing Congress to pass legislation requiring all aircraft to be equipped with advanced locator systems that experts have recommended for nearly two decades. The systems could have provided more warning and prevented the deadly crash, but cost concerns have stalled progress on the reforms.

Why it matters

The midair collision near the nation's capital highlighted gaps in aviation safety regulations, with the National Transportation Safety Board citing the lack of required advanced locator systems as a key factor in the tragedy. Passing legislation to mandate these systems could help prevent similar accidents in the future and save lives.

The details

The Senate Commerce Committee is holding a hearing to review the NTSB's 50 recommendations to prevent another midair collision like the one on January 29, 2025 that killed all 67 people aboard the airliner and helicopter. The NTSB has been urging the installation of two types of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) systems - one that broadcasts an aircraft's location and another that receives location data from other planes. Currently, only the broadcasting system is required. If the airliner had been equipped with the receiving ADS-B system, the pilots may have had nearly a minute's warning to avoid the helicopter that inexplicably climbed into their path.

  • The midair collision occurred on January 29, 2025.
  • The Senate Commerce Committee hearing is scheduled for this Thursday.

The players

Jennifer Homendy

NTSB Chairwoman, who will be the sole witness at the Senate hearing.

Sean Duffy

U.S. Transportation Secretary, who has endorsed the ADS-B system reforms.

Amy Hunter

Cousin of Peter Livingston, who died in the crash along with his wife and two young daughters.

Tim Lilley

Pilot whose son Sam was the co-pilot of the airliner that collided with the helicopter.

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What they’re saying

“This seems like a no-brainer, right? Especially when this is not a new thing that they're proposing.”

— Amy Hunter, Cousin of crash victim

“If those recommendations had been fully realized, this accident wouldn't have happened. I don't know what value we put on the human life, but 67 lives would still be here today.”

— Tim Lilley, Pilot

What’s next

The Senate has already unanimously approved a bill to require both types of ADS-B systems, but House leaders want to craft a more comprehensive bill addressing all of the NTSB's recommendations before passing the legislation.

The takeaway

This tragedy highlights the urgent need for Congress to act on longstanding aviation safety recommendations, even if the cost of upgrades is a concern for some aircraft owners. Implementing these reforms could save lives and prevent similar devastating midair collisions in the future.