Senate Hearing Examines Causes of Deadly DCA Mid-Air Collision

NTSB chair testifies on why recommended aircraft locator systems could have prevented tragedy

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Senate Commerce Committee is holding a hearing to examine the causes of a deadly mid-air collision near Washington, D.C. in 2025 that killed 67 people. The hearing will focus on why the National Transportation Safety Board has been recommending since 2008 that all aircraft be equipped with systems to broadcast their locations and receive data about the locations of other aircraft, which could have prevented the tragedy.

Why it matters

The collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport raised urgent questions about aviation safety and the need for advanced aircraft locator systems that have been recommended for years but not mandated. Lawmakers and victims' families believe these technologies could have prevented the disaster, but cost concerns have slowed their adoption.

The details

The hearing will review all 50 of the NTSB's recommendations to prevent another mid-air collision like the one on January 29, 2025, which claimed the lives of 67 people, including 28 members of the figure skating community. While the Senate has unanimously approved a bill requiring aircraft around busy airports to have both ADS-B Out and ADS-B In systems, House leaders want to craft a more comprehensive bill addressing all the NTSB recommendations.

  • The mid-air collision occurred on January 29, 2025.
  • The Senate hearing is being held on February 12, 2026.

The players

Jennifer Homendy

The chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, who is the sole witness testifying at the Senate hearing.

Sean Duffy

The U.S. Transportation Secretary, who has endorsed the NTSB's recommendations for mandatory aircraft locator systems.

Amy Hunter

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

Tim Lilley

A 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, father of crash victim

What’s next

The Senate has already unanimously approved a bill requiring aircraft around busy airports to have both ADS-B Out and ADS-B In systems, but House leaders want to craft a more comprehensive bill addressing all the NTSB recommendations.

The takeaway

This hearing highlights the urgent need to mandate advanced aircraft locator technologies that have been recommended for years but not implemented, in order to prevent future mid-air collisions and save lives. The cost concerns must be weighed against the human toll of such tragedies.