US NTSB says one-third of FAA answers to safety recommendations are ’unacceptable’

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for not addressing safety concerns in its responses to 11 out of 33 recommendations made after a devastating mid-air collision in January 2025. This collision, which claimed 67 lives near Washington, was the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in over two decades.

One of the key recommendations from the NTSB was the implementation of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In (ADS-B In) system. This system would have provided critical alerts to the passenger plane pilot and helicopter crew, potentially preventing the collision. Alas, the FAA did not agree to mandate this crucial safety measure.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy expressed her frustration, stating that the FAA's refusal to adopt the ADS-B In system is unacceptable, especially in the wake of such a tragic incident. She questioned when Congress will once again be compelled to pass legislation to address the underlying causes of the accident.

In a letter to the NTSB, the FAA acknowledged that it is reviewing helicopter routes in six major cities, has completed reviews in four cities, and has issued a directive to maintain spatial separation between planes and helicopters. However, the FAA did not confirm if it plans to write regulations requiring the use of ADS-B In.

The NTSB has a history of issuing recommendations and monitoring the FAA's progress in implementing them. In January, the board determined that systemic failures by the FAA contributed to the 2025 collision, which was caused by the agency's decision to allow close proximity between helicopters and airplanes, as well as its failure to act on recommendations to reposition helicopter traffic away from the airport.

In April, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive aviation safety reform bill, responding to numerous NTSB recommendations. The Senate also approved a bill, the ROTOR Act, in December; however, it fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority required to pass under fast-track rules.