WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the ALERT Act, a sweeping aviation safety bill designed to prevent midair collisions like the 2023 crash between an Army helicopter and a commercial plane near Washington, D.C. The legislation cleared the chamber with a 396-10 vote, surpassing the two-thirds majority required for certain procedural measures.
The bill’s passage comes three months after a similar proposal narrowly failed in February. Analysts attribute the reversal to strengthened provisions for military-civilian airspace coordination and upgraded radar requirements. “This addresses critical gaps exposed by last year’s tragedy,” said a congressional staffer familiar with the negotiations.
Last September’s fatal collision killed seven service members and three civilians when a Black Hawk helicopter and a Cessna Citation business jet crashed in restricted airspace. Subsequent investigations revealed communication lapses between the FAA and Pentagon.
The ALERT Act mandates:
- Real-time data sharing between civilian and military air traffic systems
- New transponder requirements for aircraft operating near D.C.
- Annual joint training exercises for FAA and Defense Department personnel
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg praised the vote as “a necessary step toward modernizing our layered defense systems.” The Senate is expected to take up companion legislation within weeks, though some aviation groups warn implementation could strain smaller airports.