On the first anniversary of the midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, leaders from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and members representing Kansas released a joint statement reflecting on the incident. The collision, which occurred on January 29, 2025, involved American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, and a UH-60 Army Black Hawk helicopter.
In their statement, Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX), Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member André Carson (D-IN), Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS), and Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) said: “Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of last year’s midair collision in Washington, DC. As we continue to reflect on this tragedy, we are reminded that aviation safety is a never-ending process to analyze, adapt, and better protect everyone who uses the U.S. airspace. We again thank the first responders for their efforts in the wake of the accident, and we appreciate the ongoing efforts of everyone working towards the goal of safe air travel, including the NTSB, whose final work we will review in determining our committee’s next legislative and oversight steps. As always, we are committed to the safety of our nation’s airspace and the flying public.”
The statement emphasized continued support for first responders as well as recognition of ongoing investigations by authorities such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Lawmakers noted that they would consider NTSB's findings when determining future legislative or oversight actions related to aviation safety.
