NTSB Says ALERT Act Falls Short of Midair Collision Safety Recommendations

NTSB Letter Denounces ALERT Act

The National Transportation Safety Board sent a letter to House Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastructure committees on Feb. 26, 2026, calling the ALERT Act a watered-down effort that fails to enforce critical ADS-B In technology.

The board highlighted that simulations of the Jan. 29, 2025, collision over the Potomac River show that ADS-B In with alerting could have given crews up to 59 seconds of warning before the crash that killed 67 people. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy wrote that the bill's proposed FAA rule-making committee would only address a handful of the agency's 50 recommendations and would leave many aircraft operating in ADS-B Out airspace without the required In equipment.

While the ALERT Act seeks industry-led collaboration to roll out collision-mitigation technology, the NTSB maintains that only a mandatory ADS-B In mandate can achieve the collision-avoidance levels needed to prevent a repeat tragedy. The agency urges Congress to adopt the full set of recommendations, including an unqualified mandate for ADS-B In on all aircraft operating in ADS-B Out airspace. The legislation has stalled in the House, with a related ROTOR Act having failed a suspension vote on Feb. 24.