FAA Chief to Face Senate Questions After NTSB Blames Agency for Deadly Reagan Airport Collision

American Airlines ($AAL) and the Federal Aviation Administration are facing renewed scrutiny after the FAA’s top official was called to testify before Congress following a National Transportation Safety Board report that blamed systemic FAA failures for a deadly January 2025 mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport.

• FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford will testify before a Senate aviation subcommittee on May 19.
• The January 2025 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter killed 67 people.
• The NTSB said the FAA failed to adequately separate helicopter and commercial airline traffic near Reagan National Airport.
• The board issued more than 30 safety recommendations to the FAA following the investigation.
• Investigators identified roughly 15,200 air separation incidents near Reagan airport since 2021, including 85 close-call events.
• The NTSB also criticized the FAA for failing to annually review helicopter routes and for rejecting prior safety recommendations.
• Congress is considering competing aviation safety bills in response to the crash and broader air traffic concerns.

Relevant Companies

• American Airlines ($AAL) – One of its regional aircraft was involved in the fatal collision near Reagan National Airport.
• Boeing ($BA) – Aviation safety oversight and regulatory scrutiny remain central issues for the broader airline and aerospace sector.

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.