Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to increase safety protocols for military aircraft in response to the mid-air collision between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA).
Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va. and Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich. have introduced the Military Helicopter Training Safety Act of 2025, directing the Department of Defense to “evaluate the feasibility of equipping” military helicopters with modern collision avoidance systems. They argue that this would improve safety measures for “rotary-wing aircraft” operating around civilian airspace.
Kiggans, a former Navy helicopter pilot, and Barrett, a former Army helicopter pilot, claim their legislation would lay the groundwork for long-term safety, preventing future accidents by protecting military aviators and civilian aircraft.
“Every day, military aircraft routinely operate in and around civilian airspace without incident,” said Kiggans. “However, small mistakes can lead to terrible disasters, as we saw recently with the tragedy at Reagan National Airport which resulted in the death of 67 people.”
