On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate swiftly passed a bipartisan bill aimed at closing a loophole that previously allowed military aircraft to operate without broadcasting their locations. This legislative action follows a tragic incident in January 2025, when an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an airliner over Washington, D.C., resulting in the deaths of 67 individuals.

The newly approved bill requires all aircraft, including military ones, to utilize Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology to transmit their locations. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, stated that the tragedy could have been prevented had the Black Hawk been using its ADS-B system. He expressed optimism that the bill could soon reach the President's desk, with support from the White House.

Despite the urgency of the situation, Republican leaders opted not to amend the defense bill to address flight safety concerns, as this would have delayed the legislative process. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has long recommended the implementation of locator systems for military aircraft, citing numerous near misses in the years leading up to the crash. However, previous concerns regarding the financial burden on small aircraft owners and privacy issues have hindered progress.

The Black Hawk involved in the collision had its ADS-B system turned off during a training mission due to military apprehensions about being tracked. In response to the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated that military helicopters must activate their locator systems when flying in the congested airspace around the nation’s capital. The FAA has also implemented measures to prevent helicopters and planes from sharing airspace during critical operations.

The recent legislation also calls for a comprehensive review of airport safety nationwide to mitigate similar risks and mandates improved data sharing between the military and the FAA. These steps reflect a growing recognition of the need for enhanced safety protocols in the context of military aviation operations.