U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. of Pennsylvania’s 8th District called for the adoption of new aviation safety measures on March 26 during a House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure meeting to mark up H.R. 7613, known as the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026. The legislation comes in response to last year’s collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in significant loss of life.
The push for enhanced safety follows the January 29, 2025 crash in Washington, D.C., which killed all passengers and crew aboard Flight 5342 as well as three Army personnel. During the markup session, Bresnahan joined Representative Val Hoyle to introduce an amendment requiring that all aircraft already equipped with ADS-B Out technology also be fitted with ADS-B In systems. While ADS-B Out allows aircraft to broadcast their location and other flight data, ADS-B In enables pilots to receive this information from other planes and ground stations for improved situational awareness.
“ADS-B In is technology that provides situational awareness and surveillance that provides pilots greater advanced warning of potential threats,” said Bresnahan. “The reality is this is technology that some new pilots are being trained on from day one. This is how modern aviation operates. ADS-B In is proven technology that can be deployed now to save lives.”
Family members of those lost in the Flight 5342 crash attended the committee session and submitted a statement supporting the amendment: “Any safety requirement that routes implementation through negotiated processes, administrative discretion, or multi-step rulemaking creates opportunities for delay that cost lives… We strongly support the Bresnahan-Hoyle amendment… A clear ADS-B In mandate that fully meets the NTSB’s own recommendations must be part of any bill that becomes law.”
Bresnahan acknowledged their advocacy during his remarks: “I want to take time to acknowledge all the family members and friends… who lost loved ones in Flight 5342’s tragic accident,” he said. “It’s your advocacy up here in Washington that helped get us to where we are today… We have a responsibility to do everything we can to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again.”
He concluded by affirming his commitment: “The ALERT Act is a step in the right direction for aviation safety, but there is certainly more work to be done,” Bresnahan said. “I will continue to push to ensure that any final legislation requires ADS-B In and delivers the strongest possible safety protections…” The committee approved H.R. 7613 unanimously.
