A bipartisan group of House lawmakers plans to introduce legislation to act on safety recommendations after a January 2025 mid‑air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter that killed 67 people. The top Republicans and Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Armed Services Committee issued a joint statement saying they are working expeditiously. Lawmakers said the bills will draw on investigative findings and expert input to prevent a similar tragedy.
U.S. House Lawmakers to Introduce Legislation After Deadly 2025 Mid‑Air Collision That Killed 67
Crews work to retrieve the wreckage of American Eagle flight 5342 in the Potomac River, in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the river, with the Capitol dome in the background, as seen from Virginia, U.S., February 4, 2025.REUTERS/Nathan Howard
A bipartisan group of U.S. House members said they will introduce legislation to implement a set of safety recommendations following a January 2025 mid‑air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter that killed 67 people.
The leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Armed Services Committee — the top Republicans and Democrats on each panel — issued a joint statement saying they are working "expeditiously on legislation to ensure a crash like this can never happen again." Lawmakers said the measures will be based on the safety recommendations that emerged from the investigation into the accident.
Details on the proposed bills, including specific regulatory or procedural changes, were not released in the statement. Members of Congress indicated they will consult with aviation and defense safety experts, federal regulators and investigators as they draft the legislation.
"We are working expeditiously on legislation to ensure a crash like this can never happen again." — Joint statement from committee leaders
The proposed bipartisan effort reflects growing congressional attention to airspace safety and coordination between civilian and military aircraft. Further legislative steps and timelines are expected as lawmakers review investigative findings and safety recommendations.
Reporting by David Shepardson.
Help us improve.
