Senator Ted Cruz, chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, has responded to recent findings by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding the January 29, 2025 midair collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The NTSB adopted over 45 safety recommendations following its investigation.
One key recommendation urges the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require all aircraft operating in areas where ADS-B Out broadcasting is mandatory to also use ADS-B In technology. The Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, which passed unanimously in the Senate in December, would implement this requirement into law.
Senator Cruz stated:
“The NTSB’s findings and recommendations today make it clear – it is time for the House to pass the ROTOR Act. The NTSB has called for aircraft to broadcast and receive real-time location reports 17 times over the past two decades; today marks number 18. I am committed to ensuring that not one more life is lost for us to learn this lesson. The ROTOR Act codifies this key NTSB recommendation and honors the victims of the DCA crash by making our air space safer for all Americans who fly.”
The ROTOR Act mandates that both civil and military aircraft be equipped with systems to broadcast and receive ADS-B signals. It also requires a thorough FAA review of airport airspace safety nationwide to prevent similar collision risks as those found near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Additionally, it aims to enhance information sharing between the FAA and military regarding aviation safety.
The bill removes section 373(a) from the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which previously allowed military helicopters in DC airspace without broadcasting their location. The legislation has received support from both the White House and Department of War.
Senator Cruz introduced the bill alongside Senators Jerry Moran, Marsha Blackburn, Ted Budd, Shelly Moore Capito, Roger Marshall, Eric Schmitt, Tim Sheehy, and Todd Young six months after the DCA incident. In October, Senator Cruz worked with Ranking Member Maria Cantwell on a bipartisan agreement before unanimous passage by both committee and full Senate in December.
