Overview

• The NTSB hearing beginning July 30 will gather cockpit recordings, flight data and witness testimony to pinpoint causes of the Potomac midair collision.
• Investigators will scrutinize helicopter route approvals, possible altitude misreadings and incomplete radio transmissions that may have obscured critical controller instructions.
• Sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz, the ROTOR Act would mandate both ADS-B Out and In systems on military and civilian aircraft and restrict Pentagon exemptions to sensitive missions.
• The FAA has already banned specific helicopter corridors near Reagan National Airport, but recent near-miss alerts highlight ongoing airspace congestion risks.
• Families of the 67 victims have formed an advocacy coalition pushing seven safety reforms, from modernizing air traffic control to overhauling helicopter flight paths.