Aviation Safety Bill ROTOR Act Rejected by U.S. House Following Pentagon’s Withdrawal
The bipartisan ROTOR Act, an aviation safety bill, was narrowly rejected by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday. This unexpected turn of events occurred just one day after the Pentagon abruptly withdrew its support for the legislation. The bill was a response to the tragic midair collision near Washington, D.C., in January 2025.
The ROTOR Act proposed a wider implementation of the ADS-B In and ADS-B Out safety system. This system has the capability to transmit an aircraft’s location to other aircraft in the vicinity. Despite receiving a majority of votes in favor from the House, the bill did not meet the required threshold for passage.
“We are devastated. Today, a majority of the House voted to pass the ROTOR Act. It was not enough,” expressed the Families of Flight 5342, who were deeply affected by the crash. Sen. Ted Cruz, the bill’s co-author, however, remains undeterred. He vowed to continue advocating for the bill’s passage, considering the result as “just a temporary delay.”
Source: NPR