US Democratic senators propose sweeping air safety reforms after fatal collision

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

June 5, 2025 8:02 PM EDT Updated 11 hours ago


WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - A group of seven Democratic senators on Thursday introduced sweeping air safety legislation after a fatal collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines (AAL.O) regional jet in January near Reagan Washington National Airport killed 67 people.

Lawmakers have questioned why the Federal Aviation Administration failed to act for years to address close calls involving helicopters near Reagan. The legislation would require a review of helicopter and passenger operations at major airports, mandate new FAA safety reviews after fatal passenger airline accidents and require the use of ADS-B, an advanced aircraft-tracking technology.

The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz, a Republican, has held a series of aviation hearings and called for action by the FAA and the Army to reduce the risks of collisions. Cruz did not respond immediately to a request for comment on whether he supported the Democratic proposal.

Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee that oversees the FAA, said the collision "exposed critical gaps in aviation safety oversight." She said the legislation "closes dangerous loopholes that allowed aircraft to operate without essential safety technology, mandates modern surveillance systems that enhance pilot awareness of nearby aircraft, and ensures the FAA finally acts on the data instead of ignoring it."

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-senators-propose-sweeping-faa-air-safety-reforms-after-fatal-collision-2025-06-05/

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Link to Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Democrats' PRESS RELEASE - In Wake of DCA Collision Tragedy, Senators Cantwell, Duckworth, Klobuchar, Warnock, Kaine, Warner and Markey Introduce the Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025

Link to "section by section" bill SUMMARY (PDF) - https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/8ED853E3-C727-4C8A-B1EC-CD331F7FE4B8

Link to BILL (PDF) - https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/BFFC0325-0828-45C3-B121-3D35F326A92E

[OldBaldy1701E]

1. 'Safety' is not profitable, so they won't go for it. (n/t)

[Lovie777]

2. GQP is spending 2 million of tax payer's money to investigate...........

the recent crashing because DEI is supposedly the cause of them.

[mdbl]

3. Cant they add it to that big shitty bill passed by the house?

After removing some really bad stuff as well.

[usaf-vet]

4. It strikes me that there must be two definitions of DEI, one for the Rs and one for the rest of us Secretary Duffy met..

..... his future wife, though in an early version of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion during a different time and name.

(DEI) refers to organizational principles aimed at promoting fair treatment and full participation of all individuals, especially those historically underrepresented or marginalized. These principles are implemented through policies and practices that foster diverse representation, ensure equitable access to opportunities, and cultivate inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and respected.

Regarding Sean Duffy (Secretary of Transportation) and Rachel Campos-Duffy's (a Hispanic heritage Fox News talking head) meeting on MTV's Road Rules: All Stars in 1998, while the show brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, it was primarily designed as an entertainment program rather than a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiative.

Their meeting can be seen as an instance where diverse casting and equitable access to opportunities led to meaningful personal connections (marriage with eight children), but it wasn't the result of a structured DEI program.

Same results under a different name?