Alert Act

Airline pilots highlight growing safety concerns in the U.S. aviation system due to increased traffic, aging infrastructure, and recent incidents like midair collisions and runway accidents. They urge policymakers to invest in modernizing air traffic control systems and mandate real-time tracking technology to address safety gaps.

Pilots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport made meowing sounds on an open air traffic control frequency, prompting a controller's sarcastic response. The incident, which went viral, occurred amid renewed scrutiny of aviation safety following a deadly 2025 midair collision near the airport and ongoing debates over communication protocols.

The House passed the aviation safety bill, the ALERT Act, on its second attempt after a similar proposal failed in February. The legislation aims to prevent a repeat of the deadly 2023 crash between an Army helicopter and a commercial plane over Washington, D.C.

The House will vote on the ALERT Act, an aviation safety bill aimed at preventing midair collisions after a deadly crash near Washington, D.C. The legislation requires advanced tracking technology, updated FAA procedures, and revised helicopter routes following the Jan. 29, 2025, crash that killed 67 people.

An aviation safety bill, the Alert Act, is set for a House vote following a 2025 midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) endorsed the revised bill, which mandates aircraft locator systems to prevent similar tragedies, though families and some senators argue it needs stronger timelines and provisions.