New US aviation safety bill targets crashes with stricter tracking rules

A new aviation safety bill has moved forward in the US House of Representatives. The proposed law, called the Alert Act, aims to prevent future crashes by enforcing stricter tracking and safety measures. Families of past accident victims and major industry groups have shown support for the changes. The House Alert Act (officially the Aviation Supply Chain Safety and Security Digitization Act of 2025, H.R. 6267) requires aircraft to install ADS-B In systems. These devices could have warned pilots of the 2025 mid-air collision that killed nine soldiers. At the time, the Army's policy allowed flights without ADS-B In to avoid detection.

The bill also pushes for digitised safety records, making it harder for counterfeit parts to enter the supply chain. This aligns with long-standing recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), including a 2008 call for better locator systems. The NTSB now backs the revised legislation.

Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell insist on strict rules for locator technology in any final law. Victims' families are demanding clear deadlines for when these systems must be in place. The bill will first face a full House vote before lawmakers from both chambers refine it further. If passed, the law would force the FAA, Transportation Department, and military to act on NTSB safety recommendations. Airlines for America and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) have already given their approval. The next steps depend on House approval and negotiations between representatives and senators.